Cyclosporine in the Management of Impetigo Herpetiformis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

A 27-year-old female, gravida 1, para 0, in week 22 of pregnancy, presented with an eruption consisting of annular erythematosquamous plaques with an active polycyclic elevated border comprised of superficial micropustules. Clinical and histological features were typical of impetigo herpetiformis (IH). Systemic steroids resulted in an unstable condition, with no resolution of lesions. Resistance to the above therapeutic scheme served as a stimulus to discuss the use of cyclosporine as a therapeutic option in this condition. Reviewing the limited literature, cyclosporine seems to serve not as a monotherapy in the management of IH but as an additional medication, in order to achieve a stable course of the disease and avoid high doses of systemic steroids.

Introduction

Impetigo herpetiformis (IH) is a rare dermatosis of pregnancy. There is a continuing debate whether it represents a form of pustular psoriasis triggered by the pregnancy status or just an entity itself [1, 2, 3, 4]. The natural course of IH is commonly resolved in the postpartum period. The major difficulty remains handling the disease during pregnancy, especially when there is no response to systemic steroids. Resistance to the steroid scheme served as a stimulus to consequently discuss the use of cyclosporine as a therapeutic option for this condition.

Case Report

A 27-year-old female, gravida 1, para 0, in week 22 of pregnancy, presented with an eruption consisting of annular erythematosquamous plaques with an active polycyclic elevated border comprised of superficial micropustules. Lesions were pruritic and widely distributed on the face, trunk and extremities (fig. 1, fig. 2).

Fig. 1.

Annular erythematosquamous plaques with an active polycyclic elevated border.

Fig. 2.

Erythematosquamous lesions with peripheral micropustules on the trunk.

The patient had had similar lesions in the past, with flare-ups and remissions since adolescence. A family history of psoriasis was also reported. Her mother and grandmother had a long-standing history of plaque-type psoriasis. Histology revealed a subcorneal collection of neutrophils, a psoriasiform epidermis and perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes and a few neutrophils in the dermis, typical features of pustular psoriasis (fig. 3). Direct immunofluorescence of perilesional skin with C3, IgG, IgA and IgM was negative.

Fig. 3.

Subcorneal collection of neutrophils, psoriasiform epidermis. HE. ×25.

The initial treatment decision was to avoid any systemic regimen and attempt to control the disease flare-up with topical steroids and emollients. There was no response and the patient, having generalized lesions, was admitted to the Obstetrics Department. Systemic steroids, at an initial dose of prednisolone 60 mg/day for 3 weeks failed to control the disease and a partial response was achieved only at a dose of 80 mg/day. Eight days after this partial improvement, new pustular lesions presented on the forehead, chest and buttocks. At this time point, week 27 of pregnancy, cyclosporine at a dose of 4 mg/kg body weight was added in order to prevent the development of new lesions and to help tapering from high steroid dosages.

An initial response with no further eruptive pustules was observed and the eruption remained stable for almost 1 month. Prednisolone was tapered to a minimum of 15 mg/day and in combination with cyclosporine served as a stable regimen until the day of cesarean section, in week 32 of gestation. A healthy preterm male, 1,590 g, was born. Throughout the time of hospitalization, all laboratory exams, including full blood count, calcium, glucose, albumins, progesterone levels and electrolytes were unremarkable. Blood pressure was within normal limits. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed every week. Sonography of the fetus did not reveal any abnormalities.

Three weeks after delivery, showing no signs of improvement, cyclosporine tapering and the addition of methotrexate at a dose of 15 mg subcutaneously per week was decided. The patient presented with only residual hyperpigmentation 2 months later.

Discussion

IH typically presents during the third trimester of pregnancy and resolves during the postpartum period [5]. It is a rare pustular dermatosis related to pregnancy with no more than 200 reported cases up to now [6]; it may recur in future pregnancies or with menstrual exacerbation [5]. In a significant number of cases, a history of psoriasis is well documented. It is a matter of debate whether it represents a pustular form of psoriasis or a separate entity related to pregnancy in cases when there is no personal or family history of psoriasis [3], when the lesions clear during the postpartum period and never rebound [2], or when they recur in subsequent pregnancies [1, 4].

Pathogenesis remains unclear for those who consider IH a separate entity. A possible triggering role in the onset of the disease is attributed to high levels of progesterone during the last trimester of pregnancy, low levels of calcium and reduced levels of epidermal skin-derived antileukoproteinase activity implicated in the formation of epidermal pustules [5].

Clinically, IH presents with erythematous plaques bordered by tiny pustules in a herpetiform pattern. The centrifugal distribution of micropustules may spread all over the body and evolves into desquamation and subsequent hyperpigmentation. Histology is characterized by the presence of subcorneal spongiform pustules, parakeratosis and psoriasiform hyperplasia of the epidermis, all findings of pustular psoriasis. Absence of a perivascular infiltrate by eosinophils and of necrotic keratinocytes differentiates IH from acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis.

Despite the typical micropustules of IH, differential diagnosis may include autoimmune bullous diseases, like herpes gestationis, IgA pemphigus or linear IgA dermatosis. Histology and direct immunofluorescence have a critical role in distinguishing the above-mentioned entities. In many cases of IH, both mother and fetus are threatened. Maternal complications may be seen in unrecognized and unmonitored cases and consist of delirium, tetany due to hypocalcemia and convulsions. More severe is the impact on the fetus, mainly due to placental insufficiency. The major fetal risks are stillbirth, neonatal death and fetal abnormalities [5].

Systemic corticosteroids are considered the gold standard in the treatment of IH, although their efficacy in the control of the disease varies. The most common scheme is with prednisolone at a dosage of 15–30 mg/day, which may be increased to 80 mg/day in refractory cases. Prednisolone, though nonteratogenic, has been associated in a limited number of cases with macrosomia, gestational diabetes and premature rupture of the membranes [7].

Cyclosporine has been administered in 13 patients with IH in the literature [6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]. Reviewing the above-mentioned cases, in 12 out of 14 cases, including ours, cyclosporine was not used as a monotherapy in the treatment of IH but in combination with systemic corticosteroids (table 1). Prednisolone dosage was between 20 and 80 mg/day. Fluocortolone and dexamethasone were used in 2 patients. Cyclosporine was administered at a dosage of 2–7.5 mg/kg/day. It is of interest that in only 1 case a complete resolution was achieved before delivery. The outcome of the combined scheme (prednisolone + cyclosporine) was a stable condition (3/14), a partial response (3/14) or a marked improvement (4/14). Four of the cases were resistant to therapy and regression was observed after delivery. In conclusion, in 10 out of 14 cases (71.4%) cyclosporine helped to achieve control of the disease, not a clearance of the lesions.

Table 1.

Published cases of IH treated with cyclosporine

Reference first author	Case	Week of pregnancy at onset of disease	Steroid dosage mg/day	Cyclosporine mg/kg/day	Outcome
Raddadi [14]	1	29th	–	3.5	marked improvement
Finch [10]	2	25th	40	3	marked improvement
Imai [11]	3	27th	45	3	marked improvement
Arslanpence [8]	4	27th	fluocortolone 50	5	no response
Edmonds [7]	5	18th	40; flare-ups at doses <30	2.5 increased to 3	stable condition
Valdes [17]	6	16th	60 tapered to <20	2.5	regression of lesions after delivery
Kura [12]	7	12th	60 tapered to <20	2	partial response
Brightman [9]	8	30th	60	4	marked improvement
Samieh-Tucker [15]	9	25th	dexamethasone	exact dose not reported	no response
Sheth [16]	10	20th	60	7.5	persistence for 7 weeks after delivery – initiation of infliximab
Hazarika [6]	11	20th	30	3	partial response
Hazarika [6]	12	28th	40; discontinued when switched to cyclosporine (due to severe gastritis)	3	complete resolution
Lakshmi [13]	13	26th	50	3	partial response
Our case	14	22nd	80 tapered to 15	4	stable condition

Despite placental transfer, cyclosporine seems to be rather safe. Children exposed in utero to cyclosporine have been shown to have normal renal function. Use of the lowest active dose and careful monitoring of the fetus is advisable, though, as there is still a weak possibility of early rupture of the membranes [18]. In the majority of IH cases, total regression of lesions must be expected after delivery and moreover, if there is persistence, with an alternative regimen, such as methotrexate [19] or infliximab [16]. In our patient, 3 weeks after cesarean section, methotrexate at a dose of 15 mg subcutaneously was proposed, resulting in a complete clearance.

In conclusion, cyclosporine in the treatment of IH seems to represent an alternative therapeutic option when there is resistance to systemic corticosteroids or a steroid-sparing agent in order to taper high dosages of steroids. It must also be considered in addition to corticosteroids, in order to control flare-ups of the disease.

Disclosure Statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.