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Diphencyprone induced vitiligo: a case report
Mohammad Ali Nilforoushzadeh1, Gelavizh Keshtmand, Fariba Jaffary
1Skin and Stem cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19377957511, Iran.
Case Reports in Medicine
|July 20, 2012
Summary
Diphencyprone (DCP) can cause vitiligo, a skin depigmentation condition, as a rare side effect during treatment for alopecia areata. Patients should be informed about this unpredictable risk before starting DCP therapy.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Immunology
- Contact Sensitization
Background:
- Diphencyprone (DCP) is a topical immunotherapy used for treating extensive alopecia areata (AA).
- Vitiligo, a depigmentation disorder, is a rare but documented side effect of DCP therapy.
- The occurrence of vitiligo can be at the application site or in distant areas.
Observation:
- Two cases are presented: a 37-year-old man with alopecia totalis and a 42-year-old woman with a 25-year history of hair loss.
- Both patients developed vitiligo patches on the scalp and/or arms, distant from the DCP application site.
- Neither patient had a personal or family history of vitiligo, and one patient had a positive patch test to DCP.
Findings:
- The cases suggest a direct role of Diphencyprone (DCP) in inducing vitiligo, independent of latent predisposition.
- The positive patch test supports DCP as the causative agent for vitiligo development.
- The unpredictable nature and potential persistence of DCP-induced vitiligo are highlighted.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers must counsel patients on the potential risk of developing vitiligo before initiating DCP treatment.
- Awareness of this adverse effect is crucial for managing patient expectations and monitoring treatment outcomes.
- Further research may be needed to understand the mechanism and predictability of DCP-induced vitiligo.
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