Related Experiment Videos
In vivo enalapril-induced acantholysis
A Lo Schiavo1, V Guerrera, E Cozzani
1Department of Dermatology, 2nd University of Naples School of Medicine and Surgery, Naples, Italy.
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 18, 1999
Summary
Enalapril, an antihypertensive drug, can cause acantholysis, a skin separation, even without pemphigus symptoms. This case highlights the drug
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Enalapril is a common antihypertensive medication.
- Enalapril exhibits potent in vitro acantholytic effects.
- It is known to potentially induce pemphigus in susceptible individuals.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old man with basal cell carcinoma presented with suprabasal acantholytic clefts.
- Histological examination of perilesional and apparently healthy skin revealed acantholysis.
- The patient had no clinical signs of pemphigus but was treated with enalapril for hypertension.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of in vivo enalapril-induced acantholysis was made.
- This occurred despite the absence of clinical pemphigus manifestations.
- Histological findings confirmed acantholytic changes in the epidermis.
Implications:
- This case suggests enalapril can induce subclinical acantholysis.
- It underscores the importance of considering drug-induced effects in dermatological diagnoses.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex mechanisms of enalapril-induced acantholysis.