Reactions 432 - 19 Dec 1992

Dantron

Perineal eruption following laxative administrationin elderly patients: 2 case reports

An extensive perineal erythematous eruption related to bothurinary or faecal incontinence and dantron ingestion occurredin 2 elderly women aged 80 and 69 years, respectively.

Both patients presented with the eruption 2 weeks afterbeginning treatment with a laxative containing dantron andsodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate [docusate sodium] forconstipation [doses not given]. In the 80-year-old woman,erythema extended down the legs and had a brown scalyborder indicating an irritant contact dermatitis caused byfaecal anthrone (reduced dantron). There was no evidence ofirritant contact dermatitis from urinary dantron in the otherpatient.

The eruption gradually resolved in both cases after laxativewithdrawal.

Author comment: ‘Irritant contact dermatitis may be anunderestimated side-effect of danthron-based laxatives in thosepatients who are immobile and at risk of subsequent faecalincontinence. These potential cutaneous complications ofdanthron therapy should preclude its use in ill, bed-boundpatients, or in children wearing napkins.’Harland CC, et al. Laxative-induced contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 27:268-269, Oct 1992 - England 800170783

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Reactions 19 Dec 1992 No. 4320114-9954/10/0432-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved