A case of subacute thyroiditis in a patient on adalimumab for treatment of refractory palmo-plantar psoriasis

Abstract

Recent reports indicate different side-effects of the new medication for psoriasis. Adalimumab. Adalimumab is a biologic agent acting as tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor. It is wildly used in treating psoriasis, following a national guide treatment. We report a clinical case of subacute thyroiditis induced by adalimumab in a psoriatic patient. A 54-year-old Caucasian female addressed to our dermatology clinic in 2008 with a 3 years history of moderate to severe psoriasis. The patient had been experiencing non-disabling joint pain in both knees and wrists for several years. Her medical history was remarkable for pulmonary sarcoidosis (at the age of 32), arterial hypertension and angina pectoris. The patient was started on adalimumab 40 mg twice monthly with good clinical evolution, but she was diagnosed, a few months after starting the therapy, with subacute thyroiditis with severe evolution, with transitory hyperthyroidism (thyroid stimulating hormone 0.1 uIU/ml). The treatment with adalimumab was discontinued, the symptoms cleared in 3 weeks with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a fully recovered thyroid status was obtained in 1 month. The patient continued the psoriatic medication (adalimumab) with no influence on thyroid status. We describe a case of subacute thyroiditis in a psoriatic patient treated with adalimumab, with a very good clinical evolution with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Liaison between dermatologists and in this case, endocrinologists and rheumatologists, will help to determine the prevalence of these reactions and to provide insights into the very complex mechanisms of both diseases.

Keywords

• Adalimumab
• psoriasis
• thyroiditis
• tumor necrosis factor alpha