Antihistamine Therapy for Gingival Hyperplasia Due to Diphenylhydantoin

ONE of the most common side effects associated with diphenylhydantoin therapy is gingival hyperplasia. This reaction has been studied from many aspects — clinical, pathological, physiologic and therapeutic, with controversial and inconclusive findings.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Despite its high prevalence, diphenylhydantoin-induced gingival hyperplasia is benign and painless. Though disfiguring, it is seldom, if ever, an indication for discontinuation of therapy.Recently, Gaillard12 reported the successful use of antihistaminic therapy for the regression of gingival hypertrophy from this cause. Within two weeks of therapy in 1 case and two months in another, the gingiva appeared normal.These dramatic results stimulated our interest in the . . .