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Aktuelle Dermatologie 2014; 40(10): 404-407
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1377833
Eine Klinik im Blickpunkt
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Subcutaneous Merkel Cell Carcinoma in a Psoriatic Patient Treated with Methotrexate and TNF-α inhibitors

Subkutanes Merkelzellkarzinom bei einem Psoriasis-Patienten unter der Behandlung mit Methotrexat und TNF-α-Inhibitoren
V. Kucinskiene
1   Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
,
V. Vilkickaite
1   Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
,
J. Makstiene
2   Department of Pathological Anatomy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
,
S. Silling
3   National Reference Center for Papilloma and Polyoma Viruses, Institute of Virology, University of Cologne, Germany
,
S. Valiukeviciene
1   Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
02 October 2014 (online)

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Abstract

TNF-α inhibitors are used for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases and provide a high degree of clinical efficacy in patients with severe psoriasis. Although the effect of blocking agents gives significant improvements in quality of life of psoriatic patients, the use of them might lead to neoplasia not observed before the treatment. We present a case of Merkel cell carcinoma in a patient with a long-standing history of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treated with methotrexate and TNF-α inhibitors (etanercept and infliximab).

Zusammenfassung

TNF-α-Inhibitoren werden neben verschiedenen chronisch entzündlichen Krankheiten auch zur Therapie der schweren Psoriasis eingesetzt. Die Therapie führt zu einer deutlichen Verbesserung der Lebensqualität der Psoriasis-Patienten, kann aber unter Umständen eine rasche Progression maligner Tumore begünstigen, die vor der Behandlung nicht diagnostiziert wurden. Wir berichten über einen klinischen Fall des Merkelzellkarzinoms bei einem Patienten mit langjähriger Psoriasis und Psoriasis-Arthritis, der mit Methotrexat und TNF-α-Inhibitoren (Etanercept und Infliximab) behandelt wurde.

 

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