Analysis of The Patients with Lichenoid Drug Reactions: A Retrospective Study.

Abstract

Objective: Lichenoid drug reactions (LDR) are a rarely known type of drug reaction that resembles lichen planus. The exact etiology of LDR is not known but it is thought to be caused by the triggering of all kinds of chemical substances. In this study; we aimed to investigate the clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients who were diagnosed with LDR.

Material and Method: The files of 56 LDR patients who were followed in our outpatient clinic among 2011 - 2016 have been reviewed retrospectively. The demographic characteristics, the drugs considered to cause reaction, the presence of multiple drug usage, the duration between drug intake and appearance of the initial skin eruption, clinical findings, lesion locations, laboratory findings and associated diseases have been recorded.

Results: Out of the 56 LDR patients, who were clinically and histopathologically diagnosed and followed, 36 were female and 20 were male. The average age was 52.8 (19-86 years of age). The duration of the symptoms was between 1-3 months in 58.9% of the patients, between 3-12 months in % 17.8, between 1 to 30 days in % 14.2 (n=8) and more than 1 year in 8.9% of the patients.48.2% (n = 27) of the lesions were on the extremities, 37.5 % were generalized, 7.1% were invers type. The most frequently accused drug groups were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and antihypertensive.

Conclusions: It has been found that the use of NSAID, and cardiovascular drugs on their own and / or in combination with other medications often led to lichenoid drug reactions.