Long-standing dermatitis treated with dupilumab with subsequent progression to cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Cutis. 2020 Aug;106(2):E8-E11. doi: 10.12788/cutis.0074.

Abstract

This case series discusses 3 patients with long-standing eczematous or psoriasiform dermatitis, demonstrated by multiple biopsies. Following off-label treatment with dupilumab, all 3 patients had clinical expansion of disease, with histopathologic features consistent with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) on subsequent biopsy. We postulate that this expansion likely was secondary to an exacerbation of extant CTCL following exposure to dupilumab. A proposed mechanism of promotion of CTCL is based on the functional increase in IL-13 available for binding at the upregulated IL-13 receptor (IL-13R) α2 site on cells, following blockade of the α1 receptor with dupilumab. This progression merits further investigation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Biopsy
  • Dermatitis / drug therapy*
  • Dermatitis / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Eczema / drug therapy*
  • Eczema / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-13 / immunology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / etiology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Off-Label Use
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy
  • Psoriasis / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Interleukin-13
  • dupilumab