Rheumatoid arthritis: an association with pemphigus foliaceous.
We have observed a high incidence of pemphigus foliaceous, in the absence of therapy with penicillamine, within a small population of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We suggest that penicillamine as well as inducing autoimmune disease might exacerbate subclinical pemphigus foliaceous in this group, accounting for those few patients whose skin disease fails to resolve following drug withdrawal. Pemphigus and rheumatoid arthritis have both been associated with HLA DR4, which was present in all three of our patients who were tested.
Department of Dermatology, North Staffordshire Hospital Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
S M
SM
Wilkinson
A G
AG
Smith
M J
MJ
Davis
K
K
Hollowood
P T
PT
Dawes
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010396:Penicillamine