Adverse dermatologic reaction to transdermal nitroglycerin

The incidence of adverse effects from transdermal nitroglycerin systems is reported to be very low. A cutaneous reaction from Transderm-Nitro is described. The patient in this case was a 63-year-old male with a history of chronic obstructive lung disease, adult onset diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcer disease, congestive heart failure, and angina pectoris. Seven weeks after having used a Transderm-Nitro-5 patch daily, the patient was found to have two macular erythematous areas on his chest that corresponded to the exact sites of the nitroglycerin patch. Follow-up with the same patient, using a placebo Transderm-Nitro, elicited a reaction similar in appearance. The exact causative agent is unknown, but it is believed to be from the transdermal delivery system and not the nitroglycerin.