Lupus erythematosus profundus (lupus panniculitis) induced by interferon-β in a multiple sclerosis patient

• Published in: Journal of clinical neuroscience Vol. 14; no. 10; pp. 997 - 1000
• Main Authors: Gono, Takahisa, Matsuda, Masayuki, Shimojima, Yasuhiro, Kaneko, Kazuma, Murata, Hiroshi, Ikeda, Shu-ichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2007
• Subjects: Adult; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte - drug effects; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte - immunology; Female; Humans; Immunologic Factors - adverse effects; Interferon beta-1b; Interferon-beta - adverse effects; Interferon-β; Lupus erythematosus profundus; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis - immunology; Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology; Neurology; Panniculitis, Lupus Erythematosus - chemically induced; Panniculitis, Lupus Erythematosus - pathology; Panniculitis, Lupus Erythematosus - physiopathology; Subcutaneous Fat - drug effects; Subcutaneous Fat - immunology; Subcutaneous Fat - pathology; Withholding Treatment; Lupus erythematosus profundus; Interferon-β; Multiple sclerosis
• ISSN: 0967-5868; 1532-2653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2006.07.011

Abstract We report a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) who developed subcutaneous nodules on the face, shoulders and extremities while being treated with interferon (IFN)-β-1b. These nodules fluctuated in parallel with myelopathy, and were diagnosed as lupus erythematosus profundus (LEP) based on histopathological findings. The patient showed no relapse of either neurological symptoms or subcutaneous nodules after cessation of IFN-β-1b. This agent can cause induration and necrosis in the sites of injection but also systemic skin lesions such as LEP ascribable to its immunomodulatory effects.