Treatment-resistant elephantiasic thyroid dermopathy responding to rituximab and plasmapheresis

Australas J Dermatol. 2012 Feb;53(1):e1-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2010.00693.x. Epub 2010 Sep 10.

Abstract

A 44-year-old woman was diagnosed with Graves' disease in 1995 and over the following 12 months developed thyroid dermopathy (pretibial myxoedema). Despite being trialled on multiple recognized therapies over the course of 11 years, the patient's dermopathy progressively worsened. She developed ocular proptosis, elephantiasic thyroid dermopathy and acropachy in both hands. In mid 2006, the patient was started on rituximab and plasmapheresis, with rapid response. The patient's condition stabilized and in October 2009 at the age of 58 years she was able to cease therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use*
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
  • Female
  • Graves Disease / complications
  • Hand Dermatoses / etiology
  • Hand Dermatoses / pathology
  • Hand Dermatoses / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Leg Dermatoses / etiology
  • Leg Dermatoses / pathology
  • Leg Dermatoses / therapy*
  • Myxedema / etiology
  • Myxedema / pathology
  • Myxedema / therapy*
  • Plasmapheresis*
  • Rituximab
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab