Photoallergic reaction to cyamemazine

Iolanda Conde Fernandes, Susana Vilaça, Inês Lobo, Madalena Sanches, Virgílio Costa, Manuela Selores
Dermatology Online Journal 19 (2): 15 

Dermatology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, EPE - Hospital de Santo António (CHP-HSA), Porto, Portugal

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Abstract

A 50-year-old man presented with a scaly erythema of the face, upper chest, forearms, and dorsum of the hands. He has been treated with cyamemazine for 6 months. Photopatch tests were performed and the patient was diagnosed with photoallergic reaction to cyamemazine. The drug was discontinued and a course of oral steroids was prescribed. The patient was advised to avoid light exposure. There has been no evidence of recurrence during a six-month follow-up period. Photoallergic reactions are much less frequent than phototoxic disorders. It is well known that several drugs including neuroleptics of the phenothiazine family may produce a skin eruption on light-exposed areas by dose-dependent (phototoxic) or photoallergic mechanisms. It is believed that photopatch testing, which is the clinical investigation of choice for suspected photoallergic reactions, is significantly underused in Europe and probably world-wide.

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Figure 1	Figure 2
Figure 1. Clinical findings at presentation showing a marked scaly erythema of the face, neck and the “V” area of the upper chest, forearms, and dorsum of the hands. Figure 2. Photopatch tests showing positive results to cyamemazine 0.1 percent, 1 percent and 5 percent pet.

 Peer Reviewed

Title:

Photoallergic reaction to cyamemazine

Journal Issue:

Dermatology Online Journal, 19(2)

Author:

Fernandes, Iolanda Conde;
Vilaça, Susana;
Lobo, Inês;
Sanches, Madalena;
Costa, Virgílio;
Selores, Manuela

Publication Date:

2013

Publication Info:

Dermatology Online Journal, UC Davis

Permalink:

http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2vt9m1gg Full text