Development of hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis during certolizumab pegol treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: A case report

J Clin Pharm Ther. 2020 Oct;45(5):1179-1182. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.13117. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Abstract

What is known and objective: Tumour necrosis factor-α-blocking agents potentially cause vasculitis. However, no study has reported on the association between hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis (HUV) and certolizumab pegol (CZP) usage.

Case description: We present the first case of HUV development during CZP treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis improved after CZP was discontinued and the dose of oral prednisolone was increased.

What is new and conclusion: Clinicians should be aware about the potential development of HUV during CZP treatment, which is presumed to be safe considering its unique structural characteristics that differ from those of other tumour necrosis factor-α-blocking agents.

Keywords: certolizumab pegol; hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis; rheumatoid arthritis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antirheumatic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Certolizumab Pegol / administration & dosage
  • Certolizumab Pegol / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Hereditary Complement Deficiency Diseases / chemically induced
  • Hereditary Complement Deficiency Diseases / diagnosis
  • Hereditary Complement Deficiency Diseases / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Urticaria / chemically induced*
  • Urticaria / diagnosis
  • Urticaria / drug therapy
  • Vasculitis / chemically induced*
  • Vasculitis / diagnosis
  • Vasculitis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Prednisolone
  • Certolizumab Pegol