Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis Induced by Hydroxychloroquine: Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a clinical reaction pattern that is generally drug induced and characterized by acute, nonfollicular sterile pustules on a background of edematous erythema. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an antimalarial drug which is widely used in dermatologic and rheumatologic diseases and reported as a rare cause of AGEP. A 44 years old female patient developed AGEP while recieving HCQ for rheumatoid arthritis and resolved after cessation of HCQ and starting steroid therapy. The aim of this case is to raise the awareness about AGEP which is an uncommon and undesired effect of HCQ; a widely used drug in rheumatology practice