CASE STUDY ON BETA BLOCKERS INDUCED PSORIASIS

Drug-induced Psoriasis is one among the common etiological factors of Psoriasis reported worldwide. Familiar drugs known to cause psoriasiform eruptions include Anti-malarials, Beta blockers, NSAIDs, Lithium. etc. Certain antihypertensives like ACE inhibitors, diuretics are also documented to have caused psoriatic episodes. A 57 y old South-Indian male patient with a history of Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Atrial Fibrillation for 4 y; was on antihypertensive therapy for Hypertension and Atrial Fibrillation with proponolol for past 2 y and metoprolol initially. He was presented to the hospital two weeks after switching on to Metoprolol therapy for chief complaints of erythematous scaly lesions especially over both the extremities and paronydrial appearance of nails. Initially, he was on Propranolol therapy which was then shifted to Metoprolol due to an appearance of oral lesions in the mouth. Metoprolol was now discontinued and switched on to Atenolol. After 1-2 w of therapy with Atenolol, the lesions were found to disappear and no recurrence of psoriatic conditions were found. Proper reviewing of medical history for any allergic reactions and the optimization of drug therapy through Therapeutic Drug Monitoring could be initiated by Clinical Pharmacist in order to avoid such drug-induced flares.