[Pemphigus herpetiformis following D-penicillamine in a patient with HLA B8]

A 57-year-old patient with rheumatoid arthritis, who was being treated with D-penicillamine, developed a bullous eruption 2 months after the onset of treatment. On the basis of the clinical, histological and immunofluorescent findings, the diagnosis of herpetiform pemphigus was made. The eruptions disappeared within 2 weeks after the discontinuation of D-penicillamine treatment. During the 16-month follow-up period there was no recurrence. It is noteworthy that a patch test with potassium iodide was positive and that testing for HLA antigens revealed HLA B8, A1, A2, and BW39.