Autoimmune Progesterone Dermatitis: A Curse for Female Anesthesiologists?

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is a rare cyclic premenstrual allergic reaction to progesterone produced during the luteal phase of a woman's menstrual cycle. Patients present with a variety of conditions including erythema multiforme, eczema, urticaria, angioedema, and progesterone-induced anaphylaxis. A thirty-seven-year-old female anesthesiologist reported erythema multiforme and urticarial rash prior to her menses for last five cycles. She was treated effectively with oral antihistaminic and life style modifications.