Does the frequency of dermatophytosis increase with rheumatoid arthritis treatment?

Objectives : Our primary aim was to evaluate the relationship between dermatophytosis and rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Methods : This prospective study was performed in a rheumatology clinic between September 2024 and March 2025.The study included 80 RA patients and 40 nonimmunocompromised healthy population as a control group. All of the participants were examined for cutaneous fungal infections by a dermatologist. Results :The study included 80 patients and 40 nonimmunocompromised healthy population as a control group. There is no significant differences according to age, BMI, smoking and sex between the groups. Dermatophthosis was found 56% in the RA and 40% in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of dermatophytosis between the RA patients and controls. Dermatophytosis was found 55.4% in csDMARD group and 58.3% in bDMARD group. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of dermatophytosis between RA patients using csDMARD and bDMARD. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of dermatophytosis.There was statistically significant difference in the frequency of dermatophytosis accordinly sex between the groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of dermatophytosis according DAS28, smoking, age, BMI, and medical therapy between the groups. Conclusions : In our study, the main dermatophthosis was tinea pedis followed by tinea ungium in rheumatoid arthritis population and in controls. Dermatophthosis was found 56% in the RA and 40% in the control group. Although the prevalence of dermatophytosis is slightly higher in rheumatoid arthritis population than in controls, there is no significant difference for dermatophytosis between the groups.