Phenytoin Therapy of Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Abstract

We administered phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin) by mouth to 17 unselected patients to assess its ability to reduce blistering in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). Therapeutic response was correlated with blood levels of the drug. Although there was a decrease in blistering of 53±6 per cent (mean ±S.E.) among all patients at levels of more than 8 μg of phenytoin per milliliter, the response was variable, with 12 of 17 patients having a decrease in blistering of more than 40 per cent.