Successful Treatment With Oral Hydroxychloroquine of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis in a Patient With AIDS Clinical and Experimental Dermatology

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• The authors report the case of a 23-year-old Chinese man with a 3-month history of diffuse facial rash consistent with extensive seborrheic dermatitis that had failed typical topical therapy with antifungal and corticosteroids. The patient subsequently was found to have positive HIV antibodies. He was started on monotherapy with hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice daily with significant improvement in rash at 2-week follow-up.

• The authors reasoning for treatment selection in this patient included efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in reducing inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-6 and inhibition of Toll-like receptor signaling, which are upregulated in seborrheic dermatitis. They additionally note that hydroxychloroquine has been reported to inhibit the replication of HIV, providing additional benefit. Hydroxychloroquine may be a treatment option for seborrheic dermatitis in patients with HIV, and further study is warranted.

– Caroline K. Crabtree, MD

Abstract 

Seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) is a common chronic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by erythematous patches with yellowish scales, which frequently occurs on the face, scalp and chest. The prevalence of SD is 1%–3% in the general population, but is much higher (30%–83%) in patients with AIDS, and in this immunocompromised population, the disease is generally much more severe.1Currently, topical corticosteroids or antifungals are recommended for SD; however, the therapeutic efficiency is unsatisfactory in patients with AIDS, presenting a huge clinical challenge. We report a case of SD in a patient with AIDS, which responded well to treatment with oral hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

Clinical and Experimental Dermatology

Successful Treatment With Oral Hydroxychloroquine of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis in a Patient With AIDS

Clin Exp Dermatol 2020 Oct 06;[EPub Ahead of Print], YB Hu, XZ Song 

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Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock
Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

Clinica Victoria en San Pedro: 4000-1054
Momentum Escazu: 2101-9574

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