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Case Reports
. 2018 Nov/Dec;93(6):881-883.
doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20187462.

Thalidomide in plasma cell balanitis refractory to conventional topical treatment

Lucas Mariano Serrão  1 , Karina Demoner de Abreu Sarmenghi  1 , Barbara Christina Bonino Pereira Pinto  1 , Paulo Bittencourt de Miranda  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Thalidomide in plasma cell balanitis refractory to conventional topical treatment

Lucas Mariano Serrão et al. An Bras Dermatol. 2018 Nov/Dec.

Abstract

Zoon's plasma cell balanitis is a chronic genital inflammatory dermatosis that affects uncircumcised men, especially the elderly. It's characterized by painless erythematous plaques of orange hue, located on the glans penis and foreskin. Circumcision is the most effective treatment; however, it can be hard for patients to accept. As an alternative, topical calcineurin inhibitors are used, with good response. This article reports the case of a 32-year-old patient, HIV carrier, diagnosed with Zoon's plasma cell balanitis. Treatment with topical tacrolimus was administered, without improvement. A 6-week course of thalidomide resulted in complete remission of the lesions, without recurrence after eight months of follow-up.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Before treatment. Bright, moist, poorly delimitated erythematous plaque located on the glans penis and foreskin
Figure 2
Figure 2
Histopathological exam. Epidermis with regular acanthosis and exulcerated area; superficial and middle dermis with dense, diffuse plasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate (Hematoxylin & eosin, x10)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Histopathological exam. Lymphocytic infiltrate with some eosinophils and microvascular proliferation (Hematoxylin & eosin, x40)
Figure 4
Figure 4
After a six-week course of thalidomide. Remission of the lesion with residual erythema
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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