Bullous pemphigoid induced by penicillamine in a patient with Wilson disease

Am J Clin Dermatol. 2009;10(1):36-8. doi: 10.2165/0128071-200910010-00006.

Abstract

We report a 47-year-old man with Wilson disease who developed bullous lesions on the trunk and extremities after 20 years of penicillamine treatment. The histologic and immunofluorescence findings were diagnostic of bullous pemphigoid. When penicillamine was replaced by zinc sulfate, the patient's bullous skin lesions improved rapidly. However, after 2 months of zinc sulfate treatment, the patient's skin condition remained improved but his neurologic disease became worse and penicillamine was reinstituted. Bullous lesions recurred within 1 week and the diagnosis of penicillamine-induced bullous pemphigoid was confirmed. This is the first report of penicillamine-induced bullous pemphigoid in a patient with Wilson disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chelating Agents / adverse effects*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Hepatolenticular Degeneration / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pemphigoid, Bullous / chemically induced*
  • Penicillamine / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Chelating Agents
  • Penicillamine