Development of exclusively cutaneous sarcoidosis in patient with rheumatoid arthritis during treatment with etanercept

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2016 Nov;62(8):718-720. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.62.08.718.

Abstract

We report the case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who, after 2 months of treatment with etanercept, showed disseminated asymptomatic violaceous papules. Biopsy of the skin lesion showed chronic granulomatous dermatitis with negative staining for fungi and acid-fast bacilli (AFB). After discontinuation of etanercept, the patient's condition improved. Although apparently paradoxical, cases of cutaneous and systemic sarcoidosis after anti-TNF medications have been reported in the literature, with very few cases presenting exclusive cutaneous involvement.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Etanercept / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Sarcoidosis / chemically induced*
  • Skin Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Etanercept