Autoimmune Progesterone Dermatitis

Abstract

The condition autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is an immune disorder, observed among women, primarily due to progesterone surge during menstrual cycle. Here, we present a case of a 29-year-old female with recurrent severe skin eruptions associated with her menstrual cycle that commenced a few years ago. She presented with blistered skin lesion of the body and also blisters in oropharyngeal mucosa leading to a variety of symptoms ranging from pruritus to difficulty in swallowing. Recognition of this process is important as it can result in significant debility among women. Our patient was treated with steroids and antihistamines to provide symptomatic relief and was encouraged to resume her oral contraceptive pill, which is a more definitive therapy.

Urticaria: A Narrative Overview of Differential Diagnosis

“…Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is a rare skin disease that affects women of childbearing age; to date only 200 cases have been reported in the literature. APD is probably caused by exposure to exogenous and/or endogenous progesterone causing hypersensitivity reaction leading to the development of the clinical manifestation of the disease [ 63 ]. The clinical presentation of APD can include both cutaneous and non-cutaneous features.…”