title: Lichenoid drug eruption to salsalate.
abstract: Cutaneous lichenoid eruptions can arise as a result of exogenous compound exposures. Pharmaceutical drugs, industrial compounds, and inhaled particles have been implicated as causative agents. To date, there have been no recorded cases of lichenoid drug eruptions (LDEs) caused by clinical use of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug salsalate. We describe a patient who experienced a lichenoid eruption after the initiation of salsalate for relief of arthritic pain. This eruption emerged after 1 month of therapy with salsalate, persisted for as long as salsalate was administered, and cleared within 3 weeks of discontinuing the medication. LDEs can clinically and histologically resemble idiopathic or classic lichen planus. Integrating drug history, clinical morphology, clinical distribution, and histopathology can aid in the differentiation. As in our patient's case, curative treatment for LDE requires discontinuation of the drug.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7319, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Belsito
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D012459:Salicylates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012459:Salicylates; C014182:salicylsalicylic acid