Contact dermatitis associated with wearable cardioverter-defibrillator

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Wearable cardioverter-defibrillators (WCDs) are vital for managing life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy.
• Ensuring patient compliance with WCD use is paramount for preventing sudden cardiac events.

Observation:

• A 51-year-old man developed symptomatic contact dermatitis, including itching, attributed to the self-gelling electrodes of his WCD.
• The dermatitis resolved after discontinuing WCD use and was managed with topical corticosteroids.

Findings:

• Contact dermatitis occurred in 1.7% of patients in this series, with itching being the primary symptom.
• While rare, contact dermatitis associated with WCDs can impact patient compliance.

Implications:

• Physicians should be vigilant for WCD-related contact dermatitis to ensure continued device use.
• Managing skin reactions is essential for maintaining WCD compliance and preventing arrhythmias.