Transient acantholytic dermatosis induced by recombinant human interleukin 4.

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 eruption caused by interleukin 4.

METHODS

Three patients in whom an eruption developed after they received intravenous recombinant human interleukin 4 were examined and biopsy specimens were evaluated.

RESULTS

These patients had a pruritic papulovesicular eruption that was consistent, both clinically and histologically, with transient acantholytic dermatosis. None of the other conditions believed to precipitate transient acantholytic dermatosis was present in our patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of a cutaneous side effect of interleukin 4. This may be antibody-mediated or related to increased production of tissue-type plasminogen activator.