Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis Secondary to Infliximab Therapy in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

Linear IgA bullous disease (LABD) is a rare vesiculobullous autoimmune skin disorder whose etiology and pathogenesis are not completely understood. Its occurrence has been related to malignancies, inflammatory diseases and several drugs. This report describes a 49-year-old Caucasian male with a 14-year history of ulcerative colitis who received infliximab to treat the refractory course of his bowel disease. During induction therapy with infliximab, he developed LABD. Treatment with infliximab was discontinued, and the skin lesions were successfully treated with oral steroids and dapsone. Considering the close chronological relation between administration of the tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor and onset of the skin disease, we hypothesize that this is the first reported case of infliximab-induced LABD. Similar to psoriasis, it may represent a 'paradoxical' autoimmune reaction triggered by anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy.