Stasis dermatitis as a complication of amlodipine therapy.
BACKGROUND
Lower leg edema is a common side effect of amlodipine therapy, but is often unrecognized as a contributor to stasis dermatitis.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether amlodipine therapy is more common among patients with stasis dermatitis than age-matched controls.


METHODS
In this retrospective chart review study, the medication lists of all subjects with stasis dermatitis from a single practice site over the past 2 years were compared to alphabetically consecutive charts of patients with basal cell carcinoma to determine the relative usage of amlodipine.


RESULTS
Patients with stasis dermatitis (n=43) are more likely to take amlodipine than are basal cell carcinoma patients (n=117) of similar age (19% vs. 5%, P<.02), even when controlled for the use of any antihypertensive medications (25% vs. 10%, P=.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Amlodipine therapy is associated with stasis dermatitis and discontinuing amlodipine should be considered when stasis dermatitis is diagnosed.
Gosnell
Amy L
AL
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Nedorost
Susan T
ST
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004485:Eczema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D017311:Amlodipine