Nomenclature of drug-induced pityriasis rosea-like rashes

Abstract

Antonio AT Chuh1Prince of Wales Hospital, Hospital Authority, 2The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong KongI read with admiration an article published in your prestigious journal on the rare adverse effects of clozapine (CLZ).1I write to address a specific issue in this article. In the second paragraph of the section “Dermatological adverse effects”, it was stated that a 54-year-old patient with schizophrenia treated for 28 days with CLZ developed a generalized rash compatible with pityriasis rosea (skin rash that usually begins as one large circular or oval spot on your chest, abdomen, or back).I wish to point out certain problems for coining pityriasis rosea (PR) as the diagnostic label in the patient concerned.View original paper by De Fazio and colleagues.