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Pityriasis Rosea-Like Drug Eruptions

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Cutaneous Drug Eruptions

Abstract

Pityriasis rosea is an acute, mild, self-limited papulosquamous skin disease of uncertain etiology. The disease is characterized by the initial presence of a salmon-pink oval patch or plaque deemed the “herald patch.” This is followed by the widespread eruption of oval macules, papules, and plaques whose long axis follows the lines of cleavage, resulting in the characteristic “Christmas tree” or “fir tree” distribution. A skin eruption very similar to this presentation has been reported to be caused by several drug categories and whose recovery depends on the discontinuation of the drug. These drug categories include NSAIDS, ACE inhibitors, vaccinations, mood stabilizers, barbiturates, and antihistamines. The idiopathic disease may sometimes be distinguished from the drug eruption by characteristics of presentation and duration.

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Correspondence to Carol W. Stanford MD, FACP .

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag London

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Schiavo, K.V., Stanford, C.W. (2015). Pityriasis Rosea-Like Drug Eruptions. In: Hall, J., Hall, B. (eds) Cutaneous Drug Eruptions. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6729-7_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6729-7_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-6728-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-6729-7

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