Therapeutic efficacy of phenytoin in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis. A comparison of short- and long-term treatment

Abstract

To assess the potential short- and long-term efficacy of phenytoin in treating recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), 22 patients were treated with therapeutic doses of oral phenytoin (blood level, 8-10 .mu.g/ml) for periods ranging from 8-99 wk. Of the 22 patients, 14(64%) had greater than a 40% mean percentage decrease in blistering of the skin. Of the 22 patients, 9 (41%) were treated for 75 wk, and 7 (78%) of these 9 patients had a mean decrease in blistering of at least 40% during phenytoin therapy. These data, along with previous reports, suggest that phenytoin has therapuetic efficacy in RDEB.