RESEARCH - Adverse dermatological reactions in RA patients treated with Enbrel

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Curr Drug Saf. 2006 Aug;1(3):259-64.

Adverse dermatological reactions in rheumatoid arthritis patients

treated with etanercept, an anti-TNFalpha drug.

Rajakulendran S, Deighton C.

Department of Rheumatology Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, London Road, Derby, UK.

Etanercept is an anti-TNF drug with marked efficacy in inflammatory

arthritis. This review addresses dermatological side effects that have

been encountered in our 85 patients on the drug for rheumatoid

arthritis, and reviews other reported cutaneous adverse events.

Injection site reactions are common and usually self-limiting. We and

others have encountered patients with recall site reactions where the

four rotated injection sites simultaneously develop a hypersensitivity

reaction. In all cases, the rash has responded to antihistamines and

the etanercept was thereby continued. Other injection site reactions

include discoid lupus and cutaneous vasculitis that respond to

cessation of treatment and appropriate therapy. Skin reactions more

distant from the injection site are also reviewed, with erythema

nodosum, widespread lupus rashes, infections and skin tumours

summarised. A patient who developed a purpuric rash at the site of

last injection with a drug induced worsening of thrombocytopaenia is

described. Although the therapeutic advantages of etanercept outweigh

the side effects, clinicians need to be aware of the adverse reactions

of these drugs with their increasing use.

PMID: 18690936

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18690936

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