Novel Drugs Implicated in Pigmented Purpuric Dermatoses

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Pigmented purpuric dermatoses (PPDs) are a group of vascular disorders affecting the skin.
• The etiology of PPDs is often idiopathic, but medication-induced cases are recognized.

Observation:

• Two cases of biopsy-proven PPDs are presented in women.
• One patient experienced an eruption after consuming an over-the-counter iodine supplement derived from Norwegian kelp.
• The second patient developed PPDs following intraocular injections of pegaptanib, a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor.

Findings:

• Both patients presented with cutaneous eruptions consistent with PPDs.
• The eruptions appeared shortly after the initiation of the suspect medications.
• Discontinuation of the offending agents led to the resolution of the dermatoses.

Implications:

• This study expands the list of potential causative agents for PPDs.
• It underscores the importance of a thorough medication history, including over-the-counter supplements and specialized treatments like intraocular injections, when evaluating drug-related cutaneous reactions.
• Clinicians should consider a broader range of medications in the differential diagnosis of PPDs.