Upadacitinib for the management of bullous pemphigoid coexisting with psoriasis vulgaris: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Both bullous pemphigoid (BP) and psoriasis are common immune-related dermatological conditions in clinical practice, but the co-occurrence of these two diseases is rare. Currently, there is no consensus on the long-term safe and effective treatment for patients with both BP and psoriasis. JAK inhibitors are emerging as targeted therapeutic drugs that act by inhibiting Janus kinase activity, regulating the JAK/STAT pathway, blocking the transduction pathway of key proinflammatory cytokines, and influencing T-cell differentiation. These cytokines upstream of the JAK/STAT pathway play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Upadacitinib, a second-generation JAK inhibitor with high selectivity, demonstrates promising potential.

This case report aims to provide a description of the successful treatment of bullous pemphigoid (BP) and psoriasis vulgaris by using upadacitinib, highlighting significant clinical outcomes. Additionally, we aim to analyze the underlying mechanism of upadacitinib in treating these two comorbidities by reviewing relevant literature from both domestic and international sources. Based on our clinical observations, upadacitinib appears to be a promising and well-tolerated therapeutic option for patients with concurrent BP and psoriasis, offering valuable insights for developing appropriate treatment strategies in clinical practice.

Keywords:

• Psoriasis vulgaris
• pemphigoid bullosa
• JAK/STAT pathway
• upadacitinib
• JAK inhibitor

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81160194) and the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation (No. 2013GXNSFAA019227).