Fixed drug eruptions – the common and novel culprits since 2000

A Saudi Woman with Ceftriaxone Induced Fixed Drug Eruption

Background

A fixed drug eruption (FDE) is an immunological cutaneous adverse reaction, classified as a cutaneous adverse drug reaction (CADR) and characterized by well-defined lichenoid lesions that occur at the same site each time. Ceftriaxone is a third-generation antibiotic of cephalosporin antibiotics of the beta-lactam antibiotic family, which has typical in vitro activity against many Gram-negative aerobic bacteria. This is the first clinical case from Saudi Arabia and the fifth in the world to document a woman's experience with recurrent FDE after repeated ceftriaxone use. Case Report. A 25-year-old Saudi woman with a known case of sickle cell anemia (SCA) with a history of avascular necrosis of the right hip after replacement was hospitalized with a pain crisis triggered by an upper respiratory tract infection. The patient denied having a history of allergy previously. Due to fever, leukocytosis, and active follicular tonsillitis, ceftriaxone was started. However, a few hours later she developed lip edema and a fixed drug eruption measuring 7 × 11 cm on the left side of her back. The lesion reformed over a hyperpigmented lesion (4 × 8 cm) that the patient did not report upon initial examination. It turned out that this was due to the intravenous administration of ceftriaxone, a year ago in another hospital. An allergy to ceftriaxone was considered, and steroids and antihistamines were started. The case was labeled as ceftriaxone induced FDE.

Conclusion

Ceftriaxone induced FDE is an uncommon type of allergic reaction that has been reported infrequently. Understanding this condition and the mechanism by which FDE becomes recurrent with the same previous fixed lesion is of great importance for both academic and future research purposes.

Why drug exposure is frequently associated with T-cell mediated cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions

Cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions represent the most common manifestation of drug allergy seen in the clinic, with 25% of all adverse drug reactions appearing in the skin. The severity of cutaneous eruptions can vastly differ depending on the cellular mechanisms involved from a minor, self-resolving maculopapular rash to major, life-threatening pathologies such as the T-cell mediated bullous eruptions, i.e., Stevens Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis. It remains a significant question as to why these reactions are so frequently associated with the skin and what factors polarise these reactions towards more serious disease states. The barrier function which the skin performs means it is constantly subject to a barrage of danger signals, creating an environment that favors elicitation. Therefore, a critical question is what drives the expansion of cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive, skin homing, T-cell sub-populations in draining lymph nodes. One answer could be the heterologous immunity hypothesis whereby tissue resident memory T-cells that express T-cell receptors (TCRs) for pathogen derived antigens cross-react with drug antigen. A significant amount of research has been conducted on skin immunity in the context of contact allergy and the role of tissue specific antigen presenting cells in presenting drug antigen to T-cells, but it is unclear how this relates to epitopes derived from circulation. Studies have shown that the skin is a metabolically active organ, capable of generating reactive drug metabolites. However, we know that drug antigens are displayed systemically so what factors permit tolerance in one part of the body, but reactivity in the skin. Most adverse drug reactions are mild, and skin eruptions tend to be visible to the patient, whereas minor organ injury such as transient transaminase elevation is often not apparent. Systemic hypersensitivity reactions tend to have early cutaneous manifestations, the progression of which is halted by early diagnosis and treatment. It is apparent that the preference for cutaneous involvement of drug hypersensitivity reactions is multi-faceted, therefore this review aims to abridge the findings from literature on the current state of the field and provide insight into the cellular and metabolic mechanisms which may contribute to severe cutaneous adverse reactions.

Case report: Generalized bullous fixed drug eruption mimicking epidermal necrolysis

Generalized bullous fixed drug eruption (GBFDE) is the most severe form of fixed drug eruption and can be misdiagnosed as epidermal necrolysis (EN). We report the case of a 42-year-old male patient presenting with more than 50% skin detachment without defined areas of exanthema or erythema and a history of one prior event of EN caused by acetaminophen (paracetamol), allopurinol, or amoxicillin 1.5 years ago. The initial diagnosis was GBFDE or EN. The histology of a skin biopsy was unable to distinguish between the two diseases. The course of the disease, the later clinical presentation, and the medical and medication history, however, were in favor of a diagnosis of GBFDE with two potentially culprit drugs: metamizole and ibuprofen. Moxifloxacin, enoxaparin sodium, hydromorphone, and insulin human were administered concomitantly, which makes them suspicious as well. Unfortunately, the patient received an additional dose of metamizole, one of the possible causative drugs, and he developed another bullous reaction within 1 month. This led to the diagnosis of GBFDE due to metamizole. This report highlights the challenges of distinguishing two rare diseases and elucidates the importance of distinct clinical presentation and detailed medication history.

Autoimmune skin disorders and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination - a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which is the cause of COVID-19 disease in infected patients, has led to an ongoing worldwide pandemic. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccination had a dramatic positive effect on the course of COVID-19, there has been increasing evidence of adverse effects after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This meta-analysis highlights the association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and de novo induction or aggravation of inflammatory and autoimmune skin diseases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic meta-analysis of the literature on new onset or worsening of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The search strategy included following terms: "COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 vaccine bullous pemphigoid/pemphigus vulgaris/systemic lupus erythematosus/dermatomyositis/lichen planus/leukocytoclastic vasculitis." Moreover, we describe representative cases from our dermatology department.

RESULTS

The database-search in MEDLINE identified 31 publications on bullous pemphigoid, 24 on pemphigus vulgaris, 65 on systemic lupus erythematosus, nine on dermatomyositis, 30 on lichen planus, and 37 on leukocytoclastic vasculitis until June 30th, 2022. Severity and response to treatment varied among the described cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis highlights a link between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and new onset or worsening of inflammatory and autoimmune skin diseases. Moreover, the extent of disease exacerbation has been exemplified by cases from our dermatological department.

Fixed Drug Eruptions With Flavoured Liquid Formulations of Over-the-Counter Analgesics: A Case Report

Type 4 hypersensitivity reactions convey a number of conditions that include fixed drug eruptions (FDEs). They share similar pathophysiologic backgrounds and sometimes presentation but can have very variable prognostications. Drugs are amongst the possible causes with acetaminophen and other NSAIDs being reported very frequently. We present a case of a patient reacting to flavoured oral ibuprofen and acetaminophen formulations, exhibiting FDEs with bullae formation. We describe our successful challenge to non-flavoured acetaminophen and ibuprofen. We briefly discuss FDEs in regard to their incidence, pathophysiology, and management.

Autoimmunerkrankungen der Haut und SARS-CoV-2-Impfung - eine Metaanalyse

Hintergrund und Ziele

Das Coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2, welches bei infizierten Patienten die COVID‐19‐Erkrankung auslöst, führte zu einer weltweiten Pandemie. Obwohl die SARS‐CoV‐2‐Impfung einen stark positiven Einfluss auf den Verlauf von COVID‐19 hatte, mehren sich die Hinweise auf Nebenwirkungen nach der SARS‐CoV‐2‐Impfung. Diese Metaanalyse unterstreicht den Zusammenhang zwischen der SARS‐CoV‐2‐Impfung und der Neuentstehung oder Verschlechterung von entzündlichen und autoimmunen Hauterkrankungen.

Materialien und Methodik

Eine systematische Metaanalyse der Literatur über das Neuauftreten oder die Verschlechterung von entzündlichen und autoimmunen Hauterkrankungen nach der SARS‐CoV‐2‐Impfung wurde gemäß den PRISMA‐Richtlinien durchgeführt. Die Suchstrategie umfasste folgende Begriffe: „COVID‐19/SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine bullous pemphigoid/pemphigus vulgaris/systemic lupus erythematosus/dermatomyositis/lichen planus/leukocytoclastic vasculitis“ Außerdem beschreiben wir repräsentative Fälle aus unserer dermatologischen Abteilung.

Ergebnisse

Die Datenbanksuche in MEDLINE ergab bis zum 30.06.2022 31 Veröffentlichungen über bullöses Pemphigoid, 24 über Pemphigus vulgaris, 65 über systemischen Lupus erythematodes, neun über Dermatomyositis, 30 über Lichen planus und 37 über leukozytoklastische Vaskulitis. Schweregrad und Ansprechen auf die Behandlung waren bei den beschriebenen Fällen unterschiedlich.

Schlussfolgerungen

Unsere Metaanalyse zeigt einen Zusammenhang zwischen der SARS‐CoV‐2‐Impfung und dem Neuauftreten oder der Verschlechterung von entzündlichen und autoimmunen Hauterkrankungen. Darüber hinaus wurde das Ausmaß der Krankheitsverschlechterung anhand von Fällen aus unserer dermatologischen Abteilung veranschaulicht.