Treatment options for a patient experiencing pruritic rash associated with transdermal testosterone: a review of the literature.
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.
McGriff
N J
NJ
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
Csako
G
G
Kabbani
M
M
Diep
L
L
Chrousos
G P
GP
Pucino
F
F
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
D005782:Gels; D013739:Testosterone