Solitary Fixed Drug Eruption Caused by Finasteride
December 2008
in “
Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology
”
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Studysummary This case report describes the first known instance of fixed drug eruption linked to finasteride, confirmed through an oral challenge test that reproduced symptoms at the same skin site.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
This document describes a case of a 39-year-old Japanese male who developed a solitary fixed drug eruption (FDE) on the penile shaft after taking finasteride for androgenic alopecia. An oral challenge test with finasteride reproduced the symptomatic eruption at the previously affected skin site. FDE is a unique skin reaction characterized by reappearing, well-defined lesions at exactly the same site when the causative medication is repeated. The pathogenesis of the disease remains enigmatic, although recent research suggests that the involvement of a restricted T cell population the interferon-y-producing CD8+ phenotype-mediated by a drug-specific antigen presentation in the lesional skin. The conclusion is that dermatologists should urgently recognize the possible incidence of FDE caused by this generally approved drug.
