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Case Reports
. 2020 Sep;6(5):309-311.
doi: 10.1159/000507657. Epub 2020 Jul 14.

A Case of Steatocystoma Multiplex in a Psoriatic Patient during Treatment with Anti-IL-12/23

Claudio Marasca  1 , Matteo Megna  1 , Marianna Donnarumma  1 , Giuseppina Fontanella  1 , Eleonora Cinelli  1 , Gabriella Fabbrocini  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A Case of Steatocystoma Multiplex in a Psoriatic Patient during Treatment with Anti-IL-12/23

Claudio Marasca et al. Skin Appendage Disord. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Steatocystoma multiplex (SM) is an autosomal dominant disorder developing in adolescence or early adult age. The occurrence of multiple asymptomatic cutaneous cysts on the axillae, groin, trunk, and limbs characterizes the disease. SM is associated with a missense mutation in the keratin 17 gene (KRT17), a gene encoding for a type I intermediate filament (keratin 17 [K17]), mainly expressed in the epithelial appendages (hair follicles and sebaceous glands). Here, we report a case of appearance of multiple steatocystomas in a psoriatic patient during ustekinumab treatment, an interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23 inhibitor. Our hypothesis is that ustekinumab could have unmasked a potential genetic predisposition to SM by reducing the expression of interferon-γ and IL-17/IL-22 and consequently acting on the K17 pathway.

Keywords: Biologics; Psoriasis; Steatocystoma; Ustekinumab.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Multiple, elastic, firm subcutaneous nodules located at both axillae after 16 weeks of treatment with ustekinumab.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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