An Urticarial and Acral Manifestation of Bullous Pemphigoid After Vildagliptin Therapy: A Case Report

Cureus. 2024 Mar 27;16(3):e57054. doi: 10.7759/cureus.57054. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Drug-induced bullous pemphigoid (DBP) may present identical to an idiopathic type of illness. Thus, DBP should be considered as a differential diagnosis when evaluating the cause of bullous pemphigoid (BP) in elderly individuals with diabetes. We present the case of a 65-year-old "young-elderly" female who developed bullous lesions after initiation of medication. This case report casts light on a commonly prescribed antidiabetic drug, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, vildagliptin, and its unforeseen complication in the elderly. The long-term complication is BP. With long-term use, there is an increased likelihood of encountering such cases among the elderly. Thus, we recommend that DBP be considered an important early differential diagnosis among elderly diabetics presenting with initial signs and symptoms of BP.

Keywords: bullous pemphigoid; dpp-4 inhibitors; drug-induced bullous pemphigoid; elderly; vildagliptin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports