Pellagra in a woman using alternative remedies

Wood, Blair; Rademaker, Marius; Oakley, Amanda; Wallace, Janelle

doi:10.1111/j.1440-0960.1998.tb01241.x

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The herbal remedy was found to be the cause by patch test, lymphocyte stimulation, and even by rechallenge with 1/1000 of the original dose (7). Pellagra was noted after consumption of Kombucha tea (13). Essential oils used topically for aromatherapy and herbal creams have repeatedly been implicated as a cause of photosensitization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cutaneous side effects of alternative therapy

Mevorah¹,

Orion²,

Matz³

et al. 2003

Dermatol Ther

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Unconventional, complementary, and alternative therapies have become very popular forms of therapy and the predictions are that their popularity will continue to soar in the future. They are often perceived as being "natural" and therefore harmless, devoid of side effects, and without unpleasant consequences. The fact is that although their risks might be less than those of conventional drugs, side effects of this therapy can and do occur and must be considered as being a relevant factor in using such methods. It is to be expected that their numbers will increase in the future because of their growing popularity and because of continuing efforts to intensify their activity and therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, now more than ever, dermatologists should be familiar with all possible side effects, risks, and toxic, allergic, and possible mutagenic reactions. This article provides fundamental and vital information for practicing dermatologists.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Topical herbal irritants such as paprika and arnica extract can cause Sweet's syndrome in patients with myeloproliferative disorders (11,12). Pellagra was noted after consumption of Kombucha tea (13).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cutaneous side effects of alternative therapy

Mevorah¹,

Orion²,

Matz³

et al. 2003

Dermatol Ther

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“…Another case of photosensitivity was described in a 30‐year‐old man after taking an infusion prepared from Psoralea corylifolia for 6 months (38). Pellagra occurred in a young woman after an intake of various alternative medicines leading to niacin malabsorption (39). There is a single case report on a contact allergy to chromium in an acupuncture needle (40).…”

Section: Sensitizing Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Side‐effects of complementary and alternative medicine

Niggemann

Grüber

2003

Allergy

203

140

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Complementary and alternative medicine are increasingly used to diagnose or treat allergic diseases, and numerous studies have reported benefits of this type of medicine. This article presents a review of the literature on risks of these methods. The potential sensitizing capacity of numerous herbal remedies may lead to allergic contact dermatitis and more rarely to IgE-mediated clinical symptoms. Mechanical injuries may be observed following acupuncture leading to pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade or spinal injury. Infectious complications after acupuncture include hepatitis and bacterial endocariditis. Organ toxicity has been observed associated with various herbal preparations involving the liver, kidneys, and the heart. Some herbs may have cancerogenic properties. Severe nutritional deficiencies can occur in infants and small children given strict alternative diets, resembling 'kwashiorkor'. Finally, among other miscellaneous adverse effects, adulteration with steroids, and herbal and drug interactions are discussed. The pattern of side-effects is similar to that observed by the use of conventional medicine. Therefore, caution may be justified using both conventional and unconventional methods. Only if the benefit is proven and the side-effects are established, should a given method be chosen.

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“…A 25‐year‐old woman presented with a 6‐week history of photosensitive dermatitis with painful erythema of the feet and progressive involvement of sun‐exposed areas 22 . Dermatological examination revealed erythematous plaques with well‐demarcated, peeling hyperpigmented borders, which were distributed symmetrically over the dorsal aspect of the limbs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse effects of herbal drugs in dermatology

Ernst

2000

British Journal of Dermatology

238

142

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Herbal treatments are becoming increasingly popular, and are often used for dermatological conditions. Thus dermatologists should know about their potential to cause adverse events. This review is aimed at addressing this area in a semisystematic fashion. Some agents, particularly Chinese herbal creams, have been shown repeatedly to be adulterated with corticosteroids. Virtually all herbal remedies can cause allergic reactions and several can be responsible for photosensitization. Some herbal medicines, in particular Ayurvedic remedies, contain arsenic or mercury that can produce typical skin lesions. Other popular remedies that can cause dermatological side-effects include St John's Wort, kava, aloe vera, eucalyptus, camphor, henna and yohimbine. Finally, there are some herbal treatments used specifically for dermatological conditions, e.g. Chinese oral herbal remedies for atopic eczema, which have the potential to cause systemic adverse effects. It is concluded that adverse effects of herbal medicines are an important albeit neglected subject in dermatology, which deserves further systematic investigation.

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Pellagra in a woman using alternative remedies

Abstract: A young woman presented with pellagra. Dietary intake of niacin was in excess of recommended guidelines. She had a low body mass index and was taking a number of alternative remedies. Resolution was rapid with oral nicotinic acid and discontinuation of the remedies.

Cited by 11 publications

References 10 publications

Cutaneous side effects of alternative therapy

Cutaneous side effects of alternative therapy

Side‐effects of complementary and alternative medicine

Adverse effects of herbal drugs in dermatology

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