Reactions 452 - 22 May 1993

Desipramine

Skin pigmentation: case reportA 48-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of

diffuse blue-grey pigmentation on sun-exposed areas of herbody. She had been taking desipramine ((Norpramine (Rm));dosage not given) for 8 years for an unspecified condition.Subsequent ultrastructural examination of the pigmentrevealed melanin deposition in the superficial dermis andwithin macrophages. Electron microscopy demonstratedhomogeneous electron-dense material along elastic fibres andamong collagen fibres, and granular-appearing melanindeposits. (Subsequent patient outcome not documented).Editorial Comment: The authors of the above report believedtheirs to be the first report of tricyclic-induced photosensitiveblue-grey pigmentation. There has been a previous report ofskin pigmentation associated with despiramine therapy. Thatpatient developed a slate-grey pigmentation also on sun-exposed areas along with pigmentary changes in her irises (seeReactions 445: 7, 3 April 1993). There have also been 2 reportsof pigmentation associated with imipramine: however, thesepatients were taking other drugs concomitantlyNarurkar V, et al. Desipramine-induced blue-gray photosensitive pigmentation.Archives of Dermatology 129: 474-476, Apr 1993 - USA 800195192

» Editorial comment: The authors of the above reportbelieved theirs to be the first report of tricyclic-inducedphotosensitive blue-grey pigmentation. There has been aprevious report of skin pigmentation associated withdespiramine therapy. That patient developed a slate-greypigmentation also on sun-exposed areas along with pigmentarychanges in her irises [see Reactions 445: 7, 3 April 1993]. Therehave also been 2 reports of pigmentation associated withimipramine: however, these patients were taking other drugsconcomitantly.

1

Reactions 22 May 1993 No. 4520114-9954/10/0452-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved