Severe urticarial reaction to diphenylcyclopropenone therapy for alopecia areata

Retrospective review of diphencyprone in the treatment of alopecia areata

“…Frequency of cervical lymphadenopathy in other cohorts have varied significantly (2% to 50%) but was the commonest AE in our patients (37/95 patients; 39%). Additionally, we identified two patients with a possible Type I reaction to DCP, a phenomenon rarely reported . We also identified two cases of severe periorbital/facial swelling occurring shortly after sensitization, requiring treatment with oral prednisolone.…”

British Association of Dermatologists’ guidelines for the management of alopecia areata 2012

“…Severe dermatitis is the most common adverse effect but the risk can be minimized by careful titration of the concentration. Uncommon adverse effects include urticaria, 52 which may be severe 53 and vitiligo 54,55 . Cosmetically disabling pigmentary complications, both hyper‐ and hypopigmentation (including vitiligo), may occur if contact immunotherapy is used in patients with pigmented skin.…”

Prospective study of urticaria after diphencyprone therapy in patients with viral warts

“…To our knowledge, only five papers have been reported in the English literature on urticaria as a side‐effect of topical DCP therapy for alopecia and viral warts 1–4 . Although most papers have suggested that urticaria is a rare side‐effect of topical DCP therapy, the data from our patients suggest that urticaria may be a long‐lasting side‐effect and not rare.…”