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Cholestyramine ointment to treat buttocks rash and anal excoriation in an infant
C M White1, R A Gailey, S Lippe
1Albany College of Pharmacy, NY 12208, USA.
Insights
A novel topical cholestyramine ointment effectively treated infant perianal excoriation caused by bile acids from cisapride. This treatment rapidly resolved the severe rash and irritation within three days.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Infants with gastrointestinal motility disorders often receive promotility agents.
- Cisapride, a promotility agent, can alter bile acid metabolism.
- Perianal excoriation is a challenging condition in infants.
Observation:
- A 2-month-old infant treated with cisapride developed severe perianal rash and irritation.
- Standard topical treatments and diaper-free periods were ineffective.
- A novel topical cholestyramine ointment was prepared and applied.
Findings:
- Topical cholestyramine ointment led to complete resolution of perianal excoriation within 3 days.
- Cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant, binds bile acids topically.
- This mechanism addresses the presumed etiology of irritation from altered bile acid reabsorption.
Implications:
- Topical cholestyramine may be a safe and effective treatment for drug-induced perianal irritation.
- Understanding bile acid dynamics is crucial in managing infant skin conditions.
- This approach offers a potential solution for refractory perianal dermatitis in infants.
Objective:
To describe a novel treatment for perianal excoriation in an infant receiving a promotility agent.
Case Summary:
A 2-month-old boy with reflux, and regurgitation was treated with cisapride. Shortly after cisapride therapy he developed a rash on his buttocks and anal irritation that progressed in severity despite the use of numerous topical products and extended diaper-free periods. A topical cholestyramine ointment compound was prepared and administered, resulting in complete resolution within 3 days.
Discussion:
Cisapride can decrease the gastrointestinal transit time, which can lead to less time for bile acid reabsorption in the distal ileum. If high concentrations of bile acids are contained in the stool, they can irritate the anus and buttocks in a manner similar to the skin irritation experienced by patients with ostomies. Cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant, can irreversibly bind the bile when applied topically and bring relief to the patient.
Conclusions:
Topical cholestyramine ointment may be a safe and efficacious treatment option for perianal irritation due to bile acids.
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