Dimethyl Fumarate Used as an Effective Treatment for Granuloma Annulare Disseminatum: An Immunohistochemical Case Study

Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Aug 28;24(17):13355. doi: 10.3390/ijms241713355.

Abstract

This investigation demonstrates the use of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) for the treatment of disseminated granuloma annulare (GAD), a rare and chronic inflammatory skin disease. In this case, progressive GAD was treated with DMF, resulting in significant improvement of skin lesions within 5 weeks and complete healing within 7 months. Clinical response was associated with a reduction in inflammatory cells, including both T cell subsets (CD4+ > CD8+), CD183+/CXCR3+ cells, Langerhans cells (CD1a+), myeloid DCs, M1- and M2-like macrophages and the activation marker HLA-DR in immunohistochemical analysis. These findings support the use of DMF as a promising treatment option for this rare skin condition.

Keywords: dimethyl fumarate; granuloma annulare disseminatum; inflammatory cells.

MeSH terms

  • Dermatitis*
  • Dimethyl Fumarate / therapeutic use
  • Granuloma Annulare* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Rare Diseases
  • Skin
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Dimethyl Fumarate

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Department of Dermatology, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland.