Lichenoid mucocutaneous syndrome a variant of para neoplastic pemphigus (PNP) following the treatment of follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with fludarabine

Abstract

Background: Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoimmune mucocutaneous disease associated with cancer. Since the original description of the condition, various publications have suggested the presence of a heterogeneous spectrum of paraneoplastic mucocutaneous conditions with clinical features of lichenplanus. Several cases of PNP have been reported following treatment with fludarabine. Methods: We present a case of lichenoid syndrome in a follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patient after treatment with fludarabine and review 8 additional published cases of fludarabine related PNP. Results: Our case is unique due to the fact that the patient presented with lichenoid features both clinically and microscopically and responded well to rituximab therapy. According to literature, both skin and mucosa (eyes and gastrointestinal tract) are involved and symptoms start about 1-2 weeks after exposure to fludarabine. Various immunosuppressive treatments have been employed including high dose steroids. Many of these patients developed complications related to the immunosuppressive therapy such as cytomegalovirus, candidiasis and pneumocystis carinii infection and died from respiratory failure. On the other hand, long-term remissions have also been described. Conclusion: Our case represents an unusual case of fludarabine related to mucocutaneous lichenoid syndrome, a variant of PNP, and in view of the outcome in previously described cases, rituximab may be considered a preferred and safe first line therapy for such complication.