Gold dermatitis. A clinical and histopathological study

Thirty-seven patients with skin eruptions that developed during chrysotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis or pemphigus were examined and representative lesions were studied histologically. The most frequent clinical eruptions were nonspecific dermatitis, lichen planus-like eruption, and pityriasis rosea-like eruptions. Histopathologic examination generally confirmed the clinical impression, but proved especially useful when it suggested a drug-related cause for lesions that were nonspecific clinically.