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The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 234-236. DOI 10.1345/aph.1C173
© 2003 Harvey Whitney Books Company.
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Macular Exanthema Due to Fumaric Acid Esters

Claudia H Guenther, MD

Resident, Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Gottfried Wozel, MD

Professor, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden

Jörg Laske, MD

Resident, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden

Roland Aschoff, MD

Fellow, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden

Michael Meurer, MD

Professor and Director, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden

Reprints: Jörg Laske MD, Universitätsklinikum Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany, FAX 49 351 4585740, E-mail jl622136{at}rcs.urz.tu-dresden.de

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of an unusual skin reaction to fumaric acid esters (FAE).

CASE SUMMARY: A 68-year-old white woman who was treated with FAE for 4 days for lichen planus developed generalized pruritic exanthema. This was suspected to be an allergic drug reaction to FAE, and the treatment was discontinued. After 48–72 hours, the exanthema resolved completely. An objective causality assessment revealed that the adverse drug event was probable. As skin testing for diagnostic purposes is not feasible with FAE, the drug-related origin of the exanthema was confirmed by oral rechallenge with FAE.

DISCUSSION: The effectiveness of FAE in the systemic treatment of psoriasis vulgaris has been proven by controlled clinical trials. The compound has been shown to be tolerable and safe even during prolonged treatment. The most frequent adverse effects are gastrointestinal symptoms and flushing, which typically occur 4–6 hours after administration of the drug. Allergic reactions to FAE have not yet been reported. Since the patient was rechallenged with the suspected drug, we could confirm the allergic origin of the exanthema.

CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of allergic skin reaction should be considered in patients receiving treatment with FAE.

Key Words: exanthema, fumaric acid esters

Published Online, January 9, 2003. www.theannals.com, DOI




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