[Drug eruptions caused by beta-blockers].

Adverse skin reactions due to betablocking agents are less frequent and severe since the 1974 "practolol syndrome". Psoriasiform, eczematous and lichenoid eruptions are the common manifestations with low-titres of auto-antibodies. The exact pathogenesis of these cutaneous reactions is unknown but an immunopharmacological mechanism is the probable cause in the majority of cases. The eruption may appear many months after the initiation of treatment and, in the case of practolol, was followed by sclerosis of the internal organs. Therefore, these cutaneous reactions must be recognised as a signal of possible high toxicity when observed with a high incidence in new betablocking agents.