Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Rheumatoid Arthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Urticaria and angiedema-like skin reactions in a patient treated with adalimumab.

Nikas SN, Voulgari PV, Drosos AA

Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.

Specific inhibition of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha has resulted in significant clinical and laboratory improvement of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases of Th1 phenotype. Etanercept is a recombinant fusion protein of two p75 soluble receptors, while infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody. Both have been considered to be immunogenic and cause various immune-mediated skin reactions. On the other hand, adalimumab, a human monoclonal antibody, was expected to cause little or no immune-mediated skin reactions. Herein, we report a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with adalimumab, who after the seventh injection, developed angiedema affecting the lips and face, as well as an urticaria-like skin reaction affecting the trunk. These reactions were followed by hypotension. The patient was treated appropriately and after 2 h, the rashes and the edema disappeared and the patient gradually recovered completely. Adalimumab was discontinued.

Published 3 April 2007 in Clin Rheumatol, 26(5): 787-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.