Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis
Alerts and Notices
Important News & Links
Synopsis

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is a rare condition characterized by a cyclical cutaneous reaction to endogenous progesterone levels or as a reaction to exogenous progesterone. The clinical presentation is variable and commonly includes pruritic, urticarial, eczematous, vesiculobullous, or erythema multiforme-like mucocutaneous lesions. Less commonly reported presentations include features of fixed drug eruption, stomatitis, erythema annulare centrifugum, angioedema, and anaphylaxis. The lesions usually present 3-10 days prior to menses and remit shortly after the start of menstruation. This timeline corresponds with increased progesterone levels during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The underlying mechanism of APD is unknown, but various theories exist. Multiple mechanisms are likely at play given the various clinical manifestations of APD. Proposed mechanisms include a type I IgE-mediated or type IV T cell-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to the patient's native progesterone, mast-cell activation, and immune complex deposition.
This condition tends to affect women between menarche and menopause but most commonly occurs in their third to fourth decade. It has been reported to occur in the postpartum period and in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization. It has also been reported in the case of a man taking synthetic progesterone. Cases have been reported to either improve or worsen during pregnancy.
Almost all patients experience pruritus. When urticaria predominates, it tends to be generalized in distribution and may be accompanied by laryngospasm. Anaphylaxis may occur. Oral erosions may also be present.
APD usually requires treatment, although the condition has been reported to have resolved spontaneously in several cases.
This condition tends to affect women between menarche and menopause but most commonly occurs in their third to fourth decade. It has been reported to occur in the postpartum period and in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization. It has also been reported in the case of a man taking synthetic progesterone. Cases have been reported to either improve or worsen during pregnancy.
Almost all patients experience pruritus. When urticaria predominates, it tends to be generalized in distribution and may be accompanied by laryngospasm. Anaphylaxis may occur. Oral erosions may also be present.
APD usually requires treatment, although the condition has been reported to have resolved spontaneously in several cases.
Codes
ICD10CM:
L30.8 – Other specified dermatitis
SNOMEDCT:
838551007 – Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis
L30.8 – Other specified dermatitis
SNOMEDCT:
838551007 – Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Chronic urticaria
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Erythema multiforme minor (herpes simplex virus-associated erythema multiforme)
- Familial Mediterranean fever
- Hyperimmunoglobulin D with periodic fever syndrome
- TNF receptor-associated periodic syndrome
- Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (see cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes)
- Muckle-Wells syndrome (see cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes)
- Neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (see cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes)
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Reviewed:06/10/2018
Last Updated:07/05/2018
Last Updated:07/05/2018