Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) is a rare blistering disease in patients with SLE. BSLE is a heterogenous disease caused by autoantibodies to the basement membrane, mainly type VII collagen. The pathogenesis of the development of autoantibodies in BSLE remains unknown. We report a case of SLE taking dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) who developed tense blister lesions after administration of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Initial erythematous lesion before administration of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine had not shown IgG deposition at basement membrane both direct and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). However, the result of those examinations became positive after the administration of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Furthermore, IIF test results using NaCl split skin had shown positive against epidermal side. These observations suggest that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination triggered production of autoantibodies that cause bullous SLE. The present case fulfills the diagnostic criteria for both BSLE and DPP4i-associated bullous pemphigoid. Skin lesions were cleared after withdrawal of DPP4i. Therefore, physicians should ask patients who develop blisters after the vaccination whether they are taking DPP4i.
Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination; bullous; dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor; systemic lupus erythematosus; systemic lupus erythematosus bullous pemphigoid.
© 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Dermatological Association.