Phenofibrate-induced lichenoid photodermatitis

Phenofibrate is an hypolipemiant drug derived from fibric acid. Cutaneous side effects such as pruritus, rash, urticarial lesions and some rare cases of photosensitivity have been described (1-3). The reported photosensitivity cases are clinically described as eczematous (1-3); some have been reproduced by photopatch-testing (2, 3). We studied a patient with a clinical and histopathological lichenoid eruption over light-exposed areas clearly related to phenofibrate therapy for an essential hypercholesterolemia.