[Principle histoclinical forms of iatrogenic eruptions]

The staggering multiplication of chemotherapy and polychemotherapy, in addition to artificial substances introduced into foodstuffs (such as saccharin in certain so-called fruit juices), has resulted in innumerable visceral and cutaneous disorders. Confining ourselves to "iatrogenic" rashes, the mechanism of which is far from being a single entity, we have riviewed the six most common varieties: recurrent fixed pigmented erythema, in which stovarsol has given way to the sulphaguanidines; pigmentogenic rashes with the renewed use of amiodarone; eczema and erythrodermia which may be due to any drug, with or without the influence of the sun; iatrogenic lichens, atebrine having provided all types; bullous conditions, sometimes the final stage of the previous group; finally, Lyell's syndrome. Our aim was to study skin biopsies in all these problems, in order to attempt to discover typical lesions.