Chronic eczematous eruptions of the elderly are associated with chronic exposure to calcium channel blockers: results from a case-control study.
It has been suggested that chronic eczematous eruptions of the elderly could be associated with chronic drug exposure. To determine the drugs associated with these eruptions, we conducted a case-control study on 102 cases and 204 controls. Cases were consecutive patients older than 60 years presenting with an eczematous eruption that had evolved continuously or recurrently for more than 3 months without a reliable cause. Two controls were matched to each case on age, sex, in/outpatient origin, and center. Information about drug exposure was obtained from patients and their pharmacists. Drug use for more than 3 months within the year preceding the eruption was compared between cases and controls. An association was found between calcium channel blockers (CCB) and eczema, with a matched OR (odds ratio) of 2.5 (95% CI (confidence interval): 1.3-4.6). To ascertain the course of patients after CCB withdrawal, two ancillary studies were performed on 74 patients with eczematous eruptions from our department before the case-control study period, and on 101 patients registered in the French "Pharmacovigilance" database. Healing of these eruptions after CCB withdrawal occurred in 83 and 68% of these cases, respectively. The long-term use of CCB is a risk factor for chronic eczematous eruptions of the elderly.
Joly
Pascal
P
Department of Dermatology, Inserm U519, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France. Pascal.Joly@chu-rouen.fr
Benoit-Corven
Cloe
C
Baricault
Sophie
S
Lambert
Audrey
A
Hellot
Marie F
MF
Josset
Véronique
V
Barbaud
Annick
A
Courville
Philippe
P
Delaporte
Emmanuel
E
Collet
Evelyne
E
Carvalho
Priscille
P
Modeste-Duval
Anne B
AB
Lacour
Jean P
JP
L'Anthoën-Arditi
Marie H
MH
Thuillez
Christian
C
Benichou
Jacques
J
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D017443:Skin Diseases, Eczematous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers