The following is a summary of “Intravenous and subcutaneous immunoglobulins-associated eczematous reactions occur with a broad range of immunoglobulin types: A French national multicenter study,” published in the FEBRUARY 2023 issue of Dermatology by Voland, et al.

Many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases are treated with human immunoglobulins. A reported but inadequately defined adverse effect is eczema. For a study, researchers sought to describe the clinical manifestation, severity, prognosis, and therapeutic therapy of immunoglobulin-associated eczema.

In addition to a national call for cases among dermatologists, the retrospective and descriptive investigation includes a search of the French national pharmacovigilance database.

About 322 patients were included. Among individuals receiving treatment for neurological disorders (76%), eczema predominately affected men (78.9%). Dyshidrosis (32.7%) and dry palmoplantar eczema (32.6%), along with erythroderma in 5% of patients, made up the majority of the clinical presentation. The first immunoglobulin course was followed by 62% of eczema flare-ups. 13 intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin types were used to treat eczema; 84% of patients continued their treatment while 68% changed their immunoglobulin type, and both groups experienced recurrence. 30% of individuals continued to have chronic eczema after immunoglobulin was stopped.

All immunoglobulin types caused eczema, although it was more common in patients with neurologic disorders who needed long-term immunoglobulin therapy. Even after changing the immunoglobulin type, recurrence was common, which made it difficult to administer therapy when immunoglobulin maintenance was necessary.

Reference: jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(22)02886-9/fulltext