Drugs causing fixed drug eruption : a clinical study

Abstract EN

Objectives : to identify the causative drugs of fixed drug eruption, and to assess drug-related body site distribution of fixed drug eruption.

Methods : this study was conducted at Prince Rashid Hospital and Queen Alia Hospital during the period between January 2008 and June 2009.

A total of 64 patients who attended the dermatology clinic with fixed drug eruption were asked about the offending drug.

Results : Trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole was the causative agent in 43 cases (70.3 %), followed by Furosemide in 5 cases (7.8 %), and Tetracyclines in 4 cases (6.3 %).

Other causative drugs included diclofenac sodium 3 (4.7 %), Ciprofloxacin 3 (4.7 %), Ibuprofen 2 (3.1 %), Metronidazole 2 (3.1 %), Norfloxacin 1 (1.6 %), and aspirin 1 (1.6 %).

The glans penis of the male genitalia was the most commonly involved site (58.0 %), followed by the extremities (39.0 %), the trunk (20.3 %), and the lips (6.3 %).

The female genitalia (clitoris) were involved only in two patients (3.1 %).

Only one patient (1.6 %) developed a generalized bullous drug reaction.

Conclusions : Our study highlighted the common occurrence of FDEs, and the range of causative drugs.

They were most commonly encountered with trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, but quinolones were increasingly seen as causative agents for FDEs.

Our study also showed that FDE usually presented as solitary lesion, and in terms of body site distribution the genitalia (mainly the glans penis) was the most frequently involved site.