Dermatophytosis during anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody therapy.

Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a monoclonal antibody therapies can be associated with infectious adverse effects. Although an increased incidence of opportunistic infections including invasive fungal infections is well known, very few cases of dermatophytosis associated with the use of these drugs are reported in the literature (Lee H-H et al., Br J Dermatol 2007; 156: 486–91). We describe here two patients affected by severe psoriasis, without any risk factor that can favour a dermatophytosis, who developed cutaneous mycotic infections caused by Trichophyton spp. under treatment exclusively with anti-TNF-a drugs.