Efficient pair, hydroxychloroquine monotherapy for tattoo-associated sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease which may affect the skin in about one-third of patients. It is characterised by the histopathological finding of non-caseating granulomas. There is a predilection for cutaneous sarcoidosis towards prior trauma sites. Tattoo-associated sarcoidosis may be caused by the injected foreign pigment or its by-products. These reactions are commonly observed with black and red dyes, although other colours have been implicated. Currently, there are no evidence-based treatment regimens of tattoo sarcoidosis; however, the most commonly used treatments leading to clinical improvement in both symptoms and tattoo appearance include systemic steroids followed by immunosuppressive agents like methotrexate. We present a case of a woman with a history of pulmonary and cutaneous sarcoidosis found to have sarcoidosis within her tattoo who was successfully treated with hydroxychloroquine monotherapy, without preceding systemic corticosteroids.
Authors
- Jeffrey D. Johnson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7651-6992)
- Joseph Fanciullo
- Touba Naim
- Tinotenda Sekeramayi
- Joel Tjarks
Institutions
- University of South Dakota (US)
- Avera Health (US)
- Sioux Falls VA Health Care System (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMJ Case Reports
- Published
- 2025-08-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2025-265113
- Primary Topic
- Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00