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Penicillamine-Induced Localised Cutis Laxa in a Patient with Wilson Disease: A Case Report
Eleni Routsi1, Antonios Kanelleas1, Vassileios Papaefthymiou2
12nd Department of Dermatology-Venereology, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Introduction:
Wilson disease is a rare genetic disorder, characterised by excessive deposition of copper in the liver, brain, and other tissues. Penicillamine, a copper-chelating agent, is used in high doses in the treatment of Wilson disease leading to a variety of cutaneous reactions, including hyper-sensitivity reactions, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, anetoderma, and cutis laxa (CL). We present a rare case of localised CL induced by penicillamine for Wilson disease, in the absence of elastosis perforans serpiginosa.
Case Description:
A 41-year-old male with Wilson disease treated with long-term high-dose penicillamine was referred to us for a basal cell carcinoma on the scalp. On physical examination, diffusely flaccid and redundant skin on the right side of the neck were observed. Histopathology revealed findings consistent with CL.
Conclusion:
Long-term treatment with penicillamine for Wilson disease may induce localized CL, possibly by direct inhibition of cross-linkage of collagen fibres.
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