A case of severe actinic prurigo successfully treated with thalidomide.
Actinic prurigo is an uncommon and usually persistent idiopathic photodermatosis with typical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) associations (HLA-DR4, particularly subtypes DRB1*0407 and DRB1*0401). Although its mechanism of action is not clearly understood, thalidomide has been shown to be particularly efficacious in treating actinic prurigo, among other conditions. A 31-year-old Australian woman who had suffered actinic prurigo for most of her life was treated with two courses of thalidomide (50-100 mg nocte) over consecutive summers. Remission was observed after cessation of the second course of thalidomide and had continued 4 years later. Abnormalities in the cutaneous response to ultraviolet radiation at the time of diagnosis, detected by monochromator phototesting, reverted to normal following treatment.
Ng
J C
JC
The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine (Dermatology), St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Foley
P A
PA
Crouch
R B
RB
Baker
C S
CS
D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D017454:Dermatitis, Photoallergic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011536:Prurigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D013792:Thalidomide