Langerhans' cell distribution in drug eruption.

Abstract

The number in and distribution of Langerhans' cells were studied in 11 patients with a maculopapular drug eruption. The Langerhans' cells (LC) were identified with a monoclonal antibody to OKT6 antigen, by employing an immunofluorescence technique. Skin biopsies were taken from lesional and non-lesional skin during the acute stage of the disease. LC in the lesional biopsies increased in number by 66% (p less than 0.001) and displayed more intense staining and more prominent dendrites than did LC from non-lesional skin. Control biopsies, taken from identical sites at least 4 weeks after the eruption disappeared, exhibited a cell distribution similar to the non-lesional acute stage (p = N.S.). Delivery of drugs via the circulation and their distribution into the skin may cause a type IV immune reaction due to LC activation by a drug-carrier complex.