Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis manifesting as generalized fixed drug eruption

Abstract

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is an uncommon, poorly recognized and under-diagnosed catamenial dermatosis associated with hypersensitivity reactions to progestagens. Most cases manifest as urticaria, eczema or erythema multiforme-like. A 26-year-old woman developed violaceous plaques on the groin and abdomen, 4 days after a spontaneous abortion resolved with uterine curettage. The lesions recurred once monthly at the same sites, mimicking a fixed drug eruption. Although the histopathology was compatible with fixed drug eruption, positive intradermal testing and symptomatic improvement after using oral contraceptive pills gave us a clue to the diagnosis.