Hydroxychloroquine-induced generalized myopathy in a patient with lupus tumidus: a case report

Alice Verdelli; Daniela Massi; Vincenza Maio; Gabriele Cavazza; Alberto Corrà; Elena Biancamaria Mariotti; Lavinia Quintarelli; Valentina Ruffo Di Calabria; Cristina Aimo; Emiliano Antiga; Marzia Caproni

doi:10.4081/dr.2023.9771

Authors

Alice Verdelli
alice.verdelli@hotmail.it
Department of Health Sciences, Rare Dermatological Diseases Unit, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, European Reference Network-Skin Member, Florence, Italy.
Daniela Massi Section of Pathology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy.
Vincenza Maio Section of Pathology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy.
Gabriele Cavazza Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9373-0705
Alberto Corrà Department of Health Sciences, Rare Dermatological Diseases Unit, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, European Reference Network-Skin Member, Florence, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0903-4998
Elena Biancamaria Mariotti Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy.
Lavinia Quintarelli Department of Health Sciences, Rare Dermatological Diseases Unit, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, European Reference Network-Skin Member, Florence, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9228-8042
Valentina Ruffo Di Calabria Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0307-6636
Cristina Aimo Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy.
Emiliano Antiga Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7787-4433
Marzia Caproni Department of Health Sciences, Rare Dermatological Diseases Unit, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, European Reference Network-Skin Member, Florence; Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy.

Lupus erythematosus tumidus (LET) is a subset of cutaneous lupus erythematosus that generally presents with urticaria-like papules and plaques located on sun-exposed areas. Systemic treatment with antimalarials, especially hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), is the first-line systemic therapy for LET. Even if these drugs have a safe profile, side effects such as retinal toxicity, maculopapular rash, gastrointestinal upset, hemolytic anemia and blue-gray discoloration of the skin or the mucous membranes, have been rarely reported in the literature. Herein, we describe a rare case of a 46-year-old smoking woman with LET who developed a generalized myopathy after HCQ treatment.

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Verdelli, A., Massi, D., Maio, V., Cavazza, G., Corrà, A., Mariotti, E. B., Quintarelli, L., Ruffo Di Calabria, V., Aimo, C., Antiga, E., & Caproni, M. (2023). Hydroxychloroquine-induced generalized myopathy in a patient with lupus tumidus: a case report. Dermatology Reports. https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2023.9771