title: Identification of systemic phototoxic drugs by human intradermal assay.
abstract: An improved method is presented for the detection of systemically administered photosensitizing drugs in humans. Test agents were injected intradermally in physiologic saline and then exposed to broad spectrum radiation from a Xenon solar simulator. Several clinically recognized photosensitizers were identified by this technique. The activating spectrum depended on the test drug. Sulfonamides and vinblastin were activated by sunburning erythemic radiation (UV-B), while tetracyclines, nalidixic acid and phenothiazines by near UV (UV-A), and chlorothiazide by both. It is suggested that intradermal phototesting offers a means of verifying the phototoxic potential of agents suspected clinically of provoking a photosensitivity eruption.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods