Drug eruption induced by cyanamide (carbimide): a clinical and histopathologic study of 7 patients.
BACKGROUND
In some countries, cyanamide is used as an alcohol intake inhibitor with few harmful side effects. So far 3 cases of allergic contact dermatitis and only 1 of lichenoid drug eruption due to cyanamide have been reported.


OBJECTIVE
We describe the clinical manifestations, course, histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings of 7 cases of cyanamide-induced drug eruption.


RESULTS
Of the 7 patients, 6 developed exfoliative dermatitis and 1 a lichen-planus-like eruption. Three patients with exfoliative dermatitis showed high fever, severe itching, anorexia, insomnia and general malaise, suggesting the diagnosis of hypersensitivity reaction. In all cases, mononuclear cell infiltration in the upper dermis with epidermotropism and dyskeratosis of the epidermal cells were observed histopathologically. The infiltrating cells consisted mainly of T4-positive lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
The cyanamide-induced skin reaction may be included in the spectrum of lichenoid drug eruptions, and its incidence may be much higher than previously reported.
Kawana
S
S
Department of Dermatology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D003484:Cyanamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000139:chemically induced; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015994:Incidence; D007642:Keratosis / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000139:chemically induced; D017512:Lichenoid Eruptions / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced
D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D003484:Cyanamide