Topical nitroglycerin ointment is among the most effective long-acting vasodilators currently available. We report two cases of contact dermatitis in which patch testing showed allergy to nitroglycerin-containing compounds. The severity of this dermatitis necessitated the discontinuation of topical nitroglycerin therapy in both patients. A potent corticosteroid cream applied once to previous nitroglycerin application sites prevented or minimized this dermatitis and enabled continuation of topical nitroglycerin therapy. Contact dermatitis due to topical nitroglycerin preparations may be more common than is presently realized.

Five of these cases are carefully described (Table)

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Yellow lunulae with yellow fluorescence under Wood's lamp examination developed in a patient treated with a high-dose tetracycline hydrochloride regimen for cystic acne after one month of therapy. The clinical findings in other causes of yellow nail pigmentation are reviewed. The Wood's lamp examination is useful in distinguishing tetracycline-induced yellow nails from other causes of yellow nail pigmentation and may be helpful in determining patient compliance with tetracycline hydrochloride regimens of 1 g or more daily.

Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC) is a figurate erythema that has been associated with man diverse entities. A case of EAC was related to infestation by the nematode, Ascaris lumbricoides. A careful examination of the patient did not define an immunologic basis for EAC. Results of lymphocyte stimulation tests of the patient showed an immune response to A lumbricoides extracts but not to A suum extracts. This finding is of practical importance, since most laboratoires use A suum extracts in routine skin and serologic tests for human ascariasis.