A case of certolizumab-induced purpura annularis telangiectodes of Majocchi and literature review

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) inhibitors are now widely used to treat immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Although they have a good safety profile, they are also associated with adverse cutaneous events. Pigmented purpuric dermatoses (PPD) include a variety of skin diseases characterized by multiple petechial hemorrhages due to capillaritis. Five major clinical types of PPD have been described and purpura annularis telangiectodes of Majocchi (PATM) is a rare subtype of PPD. The cause of PPD is unknown, but drugs are implicated in a minority of cases. There are very few cases in the literature triggered by TNFa inhibitors. We present a case of PATM induced by certolizumab pegol and perform a review including 4 articles in the literature reporting 5 PPD cases induced by TNFa inhibitors. When purpuric eruptions develop in patients treated with TNFa inhibitors, PPD and vasculitis should be differentiated. Thus, patients are not exposed to unnecessary evaluations and treatments.