CLINICAL USES OF 2,3-DIMERCAPTOPROPANOL (BAL). VII. THE TREATMENT OF ARSENICAL DERMATITIS WITH PREPARATIONS OF BAL

Abstract

Twenty-two cases of arsenical dermatitis have been treated with BAL. Seven of these patients with an intractable, localized dermatitis caused by diphenylamine chlorarsine improved within a few days after the inunction of BAL in ointment. Fifteen cases of generalized exfoliative dermatitis following the use of antisyphilitic arsenicals have been treated with inunction or injn. of BAL. Symptomatic and objective improvement regularly followed the admn. of BAL. The duration of the dermatitis in over 1/2 of the patients treated with BAL was shorter than in a comparable group of patients who were not treated with BAL. A mild recurrence of the dermatitis was frequent when treatment was not continued for at least 1 wk.. Six such relapses cleared quickly when therapy was resumed. BAL in ointment was quite painful when applied to inflamed skin, while intramusc. injns. were much less disturbing. No serious constitutional reactions to BAL were observed with the small doses employed.