[Severe allergic contact dermatitis with generalized spread due to bufexamac presenting as the "baboon" syndrome].
METHODS
A 48-year-old woman presented with acute, pruritic, sharply demarcated, erythematous, maculopapulous exanthem in the anogenital area with disseminated maculae over the back. Several days before, the patient had applied as topical treatment a bufexamac-containing ointment to the anal region.


METHODS
The patch test showed an allergic test reaction to bufexamac.


METHODS
The case presents a serious allergic contact dermatitis with generalization, imitating a baboon syndrome, unequivocally linked to the previous topical treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
During the last 10 years allergic reactions to bufexamac have increasingly been reported, sometimes with erythema multiforme-like reactions. Because of the high rate of sensitization, the serious clinical course of bufexamac allergy and the insidious symptoms of this side effect, sometimes mimicking the disease to be treated, the substance should be used neither for proctological nor for dermatological diseases, even more as these patients are considered to be at high risk of developing allergic contact dermatitis because of the abnormal skin barrier. Considering the data presented, the use of bufexamac should be critically reassessed.
Proske
S
S
Universitäts-Hautklinik Heidelberg. Sylvia_Proske@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Uter
W
W
Schnuch
A
A
Hartschuh
W
W
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002019:Bufexamac / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013577:Syndrome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002019:Bufexamac