Psoriasiform Cutaneous Eruptions Induced by Cetamolol Hydrochloride

Abstract

To the Editor.— Psoriasiform eruptions of the skin are recognized as one of the adverse effects of practolol and other β-adrenergic blocking agents. 1-3 With practolol, the cutaneous syndromes have occurred in association with ocular lesions, 3 sclerosing peritonitis, 4 and systemic lupus erythematosus. 5 Voorhees recently suggested that psoriasis may be precipitated or exacerbated in a third of patients with psoriasis treated with oral propranolol hydrochloride. 6 Cetamolol hydrochloride is a cardioselective β-blocking drug with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity that has been under clinical investigation in multicenter trials for hypertension and coronary artery disease since 1983. We describe herein a patient taking cetamolol who developed psoriasis that was resistant to phototherapy, but that cleared rapidly on discontinuing the drug. Rechallenge of this patient several months later with cetamolol resulted in a recurrence of the psoriatic lesions. Report of a Case.— A 60-year-old woman with a history of mild hypertension treated