Interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) release test can detect cutaneous adverse effects to statins.
BACKGROUND
An increasing number of cutaneous adverse effects are being reported as use of statins becomes more widespread. A study was undertaken to establish the relationship between statin and a cutaneous reaction by the in vitro interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) release test.


METHODS
The lymphocytes of 20 patients with suspected drug-induced skin reaction were incubated with and without the drug. The level of INF-gamma from the supernatant was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the increase calculated.


RESULTS
Response was positive in 27 (21.43%) of the 126 drugs. Statin was the only drug with a positive response in 80% of those cases. Nine of 20 patients (45.0%) had complete resolution after discontinuation of the drug; 6 (30.0%) who replaced one drug by another statin had partial or no resolution; and 5 (20.0%) had no resolution despite cessation of statins of all kinds.


CONCLUSIONS
A positive INF-gamma release test was found in patients who developed skin reactions while taking statins; the test's reliability was strengthened by prompt improvement following elimination of the suspected drug in the majority of patients.
Goldberg
Ilan
I
Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Isman
Gila
G
Shirazi
Idit
I
Brenner
Sarah
S
D000368:Aged; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007371:Interferon-gamma