Pompholyx-like eruptions induced by penicillamine in a patient with wilson's disease

• Main Authors: Diana Elizabeth Devassy, Sujata Raj Harshad, Harshad Devarbhai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dermatology
• Subjects: D-penicillamine; drug rash; pompholyx; Wilson's disease
• Online Access: http://www.e-ijd.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5154;year=2019;volume=64;issue=4;spage=321;epage=323;aulast=Devassy

Wilson's disease is an inherited disorder of copper metabolism that results in excessive accumulation of copper in various organs, with liver being the primary site of involvement. D-penicillamine (DPA) as a chelating agent forms the mainstay of therapy; however, it can cause a myriad of adverse effects on long-term use. The major adverse effects reported with DPA include disorders of collagen synthesis, such as pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like lesions, autoimmune blistering diseases, and urticarial lesions. Here, we report a young girl who developed extensive pompholyx-like blisters within a few months of starting DPA which on histopathology showed a spongiotic reaction. The lesions improved on stopping DPA and initiation of oral steroids.