THE USE OF CHLOROQUINE DIPHOSPHATE (ARALEN) AND QUINACRINE (ATABRINE) HYDROCHLORIDE IN THE PREVENTION OF POLYMORPHOUS LIGHT ERUPTIONS

[摘要] The 16 patients included in this preliminary study have the prurigo aestivalis type of polymorphous light eruption. The drugs, chloroquine diphosphate or quinacrine hydrochloride, were administered in spring and early summer of 1953, when the eruptions were at their height. Following the disappearance of the eruptions while taking medication, 14 of these 16 patients had no recurrences for the remainder of the summer mos. despite unrestricted sun exposure. Local sun screening agents were not used. Several investigators (10, 11, 12, 13) have felt there may be periods of temporary refractoriness to the development of polymorphous light eruption on sunlight exposure, which alternate with phases of sensitization. Our work seems to indicate that chloroquine and quinacrine will successfully prevent polymorphous light eruptions in most cases. However, it will be necessary to determine to what extent a refractory period may be responsible for these apparently excellent results.