Case report: Cutaneous pseudolymphoma caused by a Leishmania infantum infection in a patient treated with anti-TNF antibody for plaque psoriasis

Abstract

For psoriasis, which affects up to 2% of the population and adalimumab is approved from the age of 4 years. Here, we present a middle-aged Italian man with long-term history of plaque psoriasis and psoriasis arthropathica and adalimumab therapy. He developed ulcers or nodules within the psoriatic plaques, resembling cutaneous infection with Leishmania infantum. TNF and other cytokines such as IL-12 and IFN-γ are central in the early control of the infection. Discontinuation of the anti-TNF-treatment resolved the infection without specific therapy.

Keywords: adalimumab; anti-TNF therapy; cutaneous leishmaniasis; skin pseudolymphoma; skin ulceration.