EPICUTANEOUS TEST IN CARBAMAZEPINE CUTANEOUS REACTIONS

Carbamazepine is a widely used drug associated with numerous side effe cts including skin eruptions that appear in about 4% of patients. Epic utaneous tests have been used with variable success in skin drug react ions. The purpose of this study was to work out the efficacy of this t ype of test in carbamazepine reactions. Five patients with carbamazepi ne cutaneous reaction were studied. Clinical, laboratory and histopath ological data were recorded. The 5 patients and 20 controls were teste d with carbamazepine 1% in petrolatum. In 4 patients the carbamazepine epicutaneous test was positive. The 20 healthy controls were negative . Epicutaneous testing is a simple and helpful method in detecting car bamazepine hypersensitivity.