BLOOD SUGAR IN ARSPHENAMIN DERMATITIS

1.Sugar tolerance was tested in nine cases of arsphenamindermatitis.The dermatitis consisted of erythrodermia and papular,papulovesicular and purpuric exfoliative eruptions.The duration ofthe dermatitis varied from two to fourteen days.2.Eight patients showed delayed blood sugar curves and,inaddition,four revealed a high fasting blood sugar content.Onepatient had diabetes.3.The blood sugar findings could be related to the extent anddegree of the dermatitis but not to the type and duration of theeruption.4.It is suggested that the cause of the blood sugar changes isprimarily associated with impairment of the glycogen metabolism ofthe liver brought about by a deleterious effect of arsphenamin on thisorgan.It is recognized,however,that the dermatitis itself may be acontributory factory.