Orf disease in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT

Orf disease is a viral infection, affecting patients being involved in the care of livestock either professionally or habitually. It is also known as ecthyma contagious, contagious pustular dermatitis or infectious euphoria being a rare zoonotic disease caused by an epitheliotropic DNA virus from the parapoxvirus group. We report a case of Orf disease affecting the hand of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on treatment with methotrexate and adalimumab, an anti-tumor necrosis factor biological agent. The patient was successfully treated with doxycycline, while immunosuppressive treatment was discontinued.