Sj. Mahler et al., TRANSIENT ACANTHOLYTIC DERMATOSIS INDUCED BY RECOMBINANT HUMAN INTERLEUKIN-4, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 29(2), 1993, pp. 206-209
Background: Interleukin 4 is one of many cytokines under investigation
about its possible role in the pathogenesis and treatment of disease.
Transient acantholytic dermatosis is of uncertain origin. It has not
previously been linked to drug ingestion and is generally not believed
to have an immunologic basis. Objective: Our purpose was to describe
the clinical characteristics and histologic features of a cutaneous er
uption caused by interleukin 4. Methods: Three patients in whom an eru
ption developed after they received intravenous recombinant human inte
rleukin 4 were examined and biopsy specimens were evaluated. Results:
These patients had a pruritic papulovesicular eruption that was consis
tent, both clinically and histologically, with transient acantholytic
dermatosis. None of the other conditions believed to precipitate trans
ient acantholytic dermatosis was present in our patients. Conclusion:
This is the first report of a cutaneous side effect of interleukin 4.
This may be antibody-mediated or related to increased production of ti
ssue-type plasminogen activator.