Mira Hamed MD, Amir Bieber MD, Michael Ziv MD, Guy Feraru MD, Roni P Dodiuk-Gad MD, Eran Cohen-Barak MD, Daniella Kushnir-Grinbaum MD
Anifrolumab is a monoclonal antibody approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (excluding renal or neurological involvement). The drug inhibits the type 1 interferon receptor. Its safety and efficacy were evaluated through three placebo-controlled studies [1]. Clinical studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of anifrolumab as an adjunct to standard therapy for SLE with cutaneous manifestations. Common side effects include upper respiratory tract infections, infusion-related reactions, herpes zoster, and hypersensitivity phenomena. Importantly, no serious skin reactions have been previously associated with the use of anifrolumab [2].
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of drug-induced bullous pemphigoid (DIBP) following treatment with anifrolumab.