title: [Interferon-alpha-induced psoriasis vulgaris].
abstract: In recent years, interferon-alpha has become widely used for systemic therapy of tumours and infectious diseases. Well-known cutaneous side effects include dry skin, pruritus and hair loss. Since 1986, 17 patients with renal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, hepatitis B and C, carcinoid syndrome and hairy cell leukemia have been reported in whom psoriasis with or without psoratic B joint involvement was induced or exacerbated by systemic interferon-alpha therapy. In these patients, the drug was discontinued because of the severity of the psoriatic symptoms induced. The psoriatic lesions then resolved in nearly all patients within 2 weeks to 6 months, but in 10 of 22 patients treated with interferon-alpha specifically for psoriasis exacerbation was reported. We report three new cases of interferon-alpha-induced psoriasis. The patients were treated with the drug for HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma, renal cell carcinoma, and hepatitis C. We conclude that interferon-alpha can provoke psoriatic skin and joint symptoms, especially when additional precipitating factors are involved. In patients in whom such risks are present careful consideration of the benefit/risk ratio and concomitant antipsoriatic treatment are essential if interferon-alpha therapy is to be continued.
authors.affiliation: Hautklinik und Poliklinik, Freie Universität, Berlin.
authors.forename: L U
authors.initials: LU
authors.lastname: Wölfer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goerdt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Zouboulis
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Orfanos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha