ABSTRACT
Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD) is a rare pustular neutrophilic dermatosis in which groups of sterile pustules appear in the superficial (subcorneal) skin. This chronic condition can be associated with significant morbidity and decreased quality of life. Dapsone is the first-line therapy for SPD, but some patients fail to respond or cannot tolerate it. In these instances, patients may be treated with second-line therapies such as phototherapy, topical corticosteroids, or systemic agents including glucocorticoids, acitretin, immunosuppressive, or biologic medications. These therapies may not always be efficacious and can be associated with intolerable adverse effects. Here, we report a case of a patient who sustained long-term remission and no side effects with the novel use of pentoxifylline, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor, as monotherapy. Pentoxifylline should be considered as a possible therapy in patients with SPD intolerant to dapsone.
Subject(s)
Dermatologic Agents/therapeutic use , Pentoxifylline/therapeutic use , Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous/drug therapy , Dermatologic Agents/pharmacology , Female , Humans , Pentoxifylline/pharmacology , Quality of Life , Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous/pathology , Treatment Outcome , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors , Young AdultABSTRACT
Topical application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most effective clinical strategies available to treat actinic keratosis (AK). During treatment, an apparent toxic skin reaction occurs before dermal quiescence ensues. We report a case of a typical flare of AK in a woman treated with capecitabine for advanced breast cancer.
