Cutaneous reactions to practolol. Clinical and histopathological study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacology
• Histopathology

Background:

• Cutaneous reactions to practolol are a known adverse effect.
• Understanding the clinical and histological spectrum is crucial for diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the clinical and histological features of cutaneous reactions to practolol.
• To differentiate practolol-induced rashes from other drug eruptions.

Main Methods:

• Observational study of twelve patients with suspected practolol-induced skin reactions.
• Clinical assessment of rash morphology.
• Histopathological examination of skin biopsies.
• Oral challenge tests in some patients.

Main Results:

• Variable clinical presentations observed, including eczematous, exanthematous, lichenoid, psoriasiform eruptions, and exfoliative dermatitis.
• Slow onset and delayed reappearance of rash after oral challenge.
• Histological findings were remarkably consistent across patients.
• Key histological features included vacuolated and dyskeratotic epidermal cells, and epidermal disorganization with atypical mitoses.

Conclusions:

• Practolol-induced cutaneous reactions exhibit diverse clinical appearances.
• Histopathology provides a distinctive pattern, aiding in the diagnosis of practolol drug eruptions.
• The findings suggest a specific mechanism for practolol-induced skin toxicity.