Macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) in drug eruption.

A controlled study was conducted to evaluate the macrophage migration inhibition factor test as a diagnostic aid in 50 patients with drug eruption. Two groups of patients served as controls: group A, 110 patients being treated with drugs without known cutaneous adverse reactions, and group B, 15 patients suffering from dermatologic disorders unrelated to drugs being taken. Positive macrophage migration inhibition factor responses were found toward a variety of drugs in 35 (70%) of the patients with drug eruptions, with no relation to the type of eruption or the duration of drug intake. The percentage of positive macrophage migration inhibition factor responses toward drugs in the patients with drug eruptions was higher than that in the two control groups (4.5% and 6.7%, respectively). The percentage of positive macrophage migration inhibition factor responses recorded for clinically "suspected" drugs was significantly higher than that recorded for the "nonsuspected" drugs.