Oral fixed drug eruption: Analyses of reported cases in the literature

This analytic study aimed to summarize the data regarding OFDEs manifestations and characteristics available up to date.

We searched online databases for relevant articles and summarized their data regarding age, gender, Main drug classification and name, additional drugs, dosages, primary disorders, OFDE presentation and location, extra-oral presentation and location, follow-up, and treatment.

The mean age of OFDE-affected patients was 38.9. Most of the reported cases were between 30 and 60 years of age. The female/male ratio was 1.12/1. Three drug classifications, which were mainly associated with OFDEs, were analgesics (27.8%), antibiotics (22.2%), and antifungals (11.1%). The most common additional drugs were oral contraceptives and corticosteroids. The three most prevalent disorders or conditions were infectious disease (23.7%), pain (13.2%) and auto-immune disease (10.5%). Erythematous lesions without blister (38.9%), lichenoid drug eruptions (16.7%), blisters/vesicles (13.9%) and ulcers (13.9%) were the most common manifestations of OFDEs. The rarest manifestation of OFDE was pigmentation. Lips, tongue, buccal mucosa, palate and gingiva were the sites in which OFDEs occurred in the included studies. Similar to OFDEs, erythematous lesions without blisters and lichenoid drug eruptions were the most prevalent extra-oral manifestations. The most common time for OFDE manifestations was one to three days after taking the drug.

Due to the similarities between the reported cases of OFDEs, clinicians should familiarize themselves with OFDE cases in order to screen suspected patients effectively.