Eczema craquelé associated with antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Dear Editor,

Interferon-based therapy has many side effects, often leading to the premature cessation of therapy.[1,2] We report two patients who developed severe eczema craquelé during interferon-based therapy for a chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Case 1. a 56-year-old female patient with HCV liver cirrhosis was submitted to antiviral treatment with pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin. The patient evolved to deep fissures and flaking skin along the trunk and lower limbs, with intense pain and bleeding. Therapy was discontinued at week 9, and she was treated with prednisone, sunflower oil enriched with vitamins, and intense skin hydration. After 3 weeks, with partially improved lesions, peginterferon was reintroduced and it was tolerated until week 15, when it was permanently discontinued due to worsening skin lesions. The diagnosis was eczema craquelé (Figure 1). The skin lesions improved after discontinuation of antiviral therapy, but the HCV viral load relapsed. Case 2. a 49-year-old male patient with HCV liver cirrhosis was submitted to antiviral treatment with pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin. The patient evolved to scaly lesions on the lower limbs associated with itching and dry skin, which were managed with topical ketoconazole. The patient's clinical condition progressively worsened, and the lesions spread to the dorsal region of the thorax. He was diagnosed with eczema craquelé at week 14 of treatment (Figure 2). The skin lesions were treated with anionic emollient and sunflower oil, topical dexamethasone twice a day, and oral fexofenadine hydrochloride for itchiness as needed. Despite these comorbid symptoms, the patient chose to continue antiviral treatment, which was tolerated until week 24 and discontinued due decompensated cirrhosis. Eczema craquelé gradually improved after discontinuation of antiviral treatment. The present study has shown a clear association between the development of eczema craquelé and interferon-based therapy for HCV. Besides, severe lesions that did not respond to the standard management led to discontinuation of antiviral therapy in a patient with liver cirrhosis, resulting in recurrence of the virus. Adverse reactions lead to great complexity in treating chronic hepatitis C. Among these, dermatological reactions constitute a significant number of cases and can even contribute to the discontinuation of therapy.[3] Lesions such as hives, psoriasis, peeling eczema, alopecia, lichen planus, pigmented lesions, cutaneous pseudolymphoma, blisters, and skin necrosis have been widely described as adverse effects. Asteatotic eczema, or eczema craquelé is rarely described in the general literature. It appears as a characteristic extensive lesion that makes the patient uncomfortable and is potentially serious. The lesion resembles barnacles that cover the affected area. Extensive fissures and porcelain skin, mainly affecting the lower limbs, may also reach the hands and arms, which may be a sign of malignant processes in the internal organs. The lesions are caused by the loss of natural moisture of the stratum corneum associated with reduced lipids in the cells of this dermal layer. This condition can be associated with erythematous pruritic lesions, which are responsible for the itching and excoriations that arise later, even leading to bleeding.[4] Eczema craquelé commonly occurs in dry, cold climates, in patients with dry skin or who habitually take hot showers daily or use soaps and detergents without further skin hydration. Other predisposing factors are malnutrition (zinc deficiency), prolonged corticosteroid use, anti-androgen therapy, prolonged diuretic use, atopy, myxedema, and malignancy.[5] Treatment for eczema craquelé is based on suspending the causal factor, using emollients to hydrate the skin, reducing the use of soaps and detergents, and showering at room temperature. In more severe cases or in those unresponsive to this therapy, topical corticosteroids are applied on the lesions. Appropriate skin care and eczema craquelé early recognition are of fundamental importance during interferon-based therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

Figure 1

Patient 1 = lesions affecting the lower limbs at week 15 of antiviral therapy

Figure 2

Patient 2 = detail of the right lower limb at week 14 of antiviral therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin