title: Treatment options for a patient experiencing pruritic rash associated with transdermal testosterone: a review of the literature.
abstract: A 22-year-old man with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was receiving monthly intramuscular injections of testosterone replacement therapy. The patient refused to self-administer the injections because of discomfort, so the therapy was switched to testosterone patches. He experienced a pruritic, macular, erythematous rash underneath the reservoir area of two different transdermal formulations, which did not improve after pretreatment with topical corticosteroids. Eventually, he tolerated application of a testosterone gel and his serum testosterone levels returned to normal after 1 month of therapy. Commercially available and investigational testosterone products and therapeutic monitoring guidelines for androgen replacement are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, USA. n.mcgrif@usip.edu
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: McGriff
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Csako
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kabbani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Diep
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pucino
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D005782:Gels; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008297:Male; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D013739:Testosterone