Marina Sousa Gomes1, Joana Araújo Pereira2, Vera Trocado2,3, João Pedro Prata2, Vera Teixeira4, Paula Pinheiro2. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alto Minho Local Healthcare Unit, Viana do Castelo, Portugal. marinarsgomes@gmail.com. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alto Minho Local Healthcare Unit, Viana do Castelo, Portugal. 3. School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, Braga, Portugal. 4. Department of Dermatology, Alto Minho Local Healthcare Unit, Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To report a case of vulvar familial benign pemphigus, or Hailey-Hailey disease, treated successfully with low-dose naltrexone and to review the current literature. METHODS: We report a case of a 71-year-old white woman with vulvar Hailey-Hailey disease recalcitrant to topical corticosteroids. After treatment with low-dose naltrexone, 3 mg nightly was initiated, the lesions began to heal and 5 months later her skin showed no lesions. A literature review on the use of low-dose naltrexone for Hailey-Hailey disease was performed. We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE databases for previous case reports using the key words ''Pemphigus, Benign Familial'' and ''naltrexone". RESULTS: We found 35 more cases of Hailey-Hailey disease treated with naltrexone, showing promising results, reported until January 2020, with no major adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Low-dose naltrexone may represent a cost-effective and successful treatment modality in nongeneralized Hailey-Hailey disease without serious adverse effects. Future prospective studies are needed to investigate this interesting therapeutic option.
PURPOSE: To report a case of vulvar familial benign pemphigus, or Hailey-Hailey disease, treated successfully with low-dose naltrexone and to review the current literature. METHODS: We report a case of a 71-year-old white woman with vulvar Hailey-Hailey disease recalcitrant to topical corticosteroids. After treatment with low-dose naltrexone, 3 mg nightly was initiated, the lesions began to heal and 5 months later her skin showed no lesions. A literature review on the use of low-dose naltrexone for Hailey-Hailey disease was performed. We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE databases for previous case reports using the key words ''Pemphigus, Benign Familial'' and ''naltrexone". RESULTS: We found 35 more cases of Hailey-Hailey disease treated with naltrexone, showing promising results, reported until January 2020, with no major adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Low-dose naltrexone may represent a cost-effective and successful treatment modality in nongeneralized Hailey-Hailey disease without serious adverse effects. Future prospective studies are needed to investigate this interesting therapeutic option.
Authors: Benjamin Farahnik; Collin M Blattner; Michael B Mortazie; Benjamin M Perry; William Lear; Dirk M Elston Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2016-10-13 Impact factor: 11.527