Concurrent bullous pemphigoid and plaque psoriasis successfully treated with Janus kinase inhibitor Baricitinib
Yue Xiao, Hongmei Xiang, Wei Li
Abstract
We report a case of aggressive bullous pemphigoid (BP) concurrent with plaque psoriasis successfully treated with Janus kinase inhibitor Baricitinib. The 83-year-old Chinese man suffered 10 years of psoriasis and developed BP with typical intense blisters and significantly elevated serum anti-BP180 autoantibodies. Due to concerns on his poor health conditions including stage III hypertension and potential serious side effects of standard treatment with systematic steroid, he was given Baricitinib orally 4 mg/day. Significant improvement in skin lesions and pruritus was noted following treatment for 12 weeks, from which the dose of Baricitinib was halved and continued for an additional 12 weeks. He showed a complete remission of both bullous and psoriatic lesions without any adverse effects at the 24-week follow-up visit. Our observation suggests a potential of Baricitinib as a new alternative therapeutic option for concurrent plaque psoriasis and BP or either of them.