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Summary
Gold treatment for rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe acne, even months after stopping the drug. This highlights the potential for delayed and diverse skin reactions to gold therapy.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Rheumatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease.
- Gold compounds have been used historically for RA treatment.
- Gold therapy can cause various dermatological side effects.
Observation:
- A 58-year-old male patient with RA developed lichen planus during gold treatment.
- Following gold cessation, the patient experienced severe acne with comedones, papules, pustules, and cystic lesions.
- No other drug or chemical exposure was linked to the acne eruption.
Findings:
- This case presents a potential link between gold therapy and acneiform eruptions.
- Acne provoked by gold treatment appears to be an underreported or undescribed phenomenon.
- Skin disturbances from gold can manifest significantly after drug discontinuation.
Implications:
- Physicians should consider gold-induced acne in patients with RA presenting with severe acne.
- The findings underscore the importance of monitoring for delayed cutaneous adverse events during and after gold therapy.
- This case expands the known spectrum of dermatological side effects associated with gold compounds.