Skin Reaction with Lozartan and Enalapril Drugs in Patients

Numerous reports have been published about the skin reaction after using angiotensin II-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) such as enalapril and angiotensin II receptor inhibitors II (ARB) such as losartan. However, no such investigations has been conducted to evaluate skin complications after ACEI and ARB drug group intake.According to different racial to medications and high rate prescription of theses mentioned drugs we aimed to design the present study. Our cross-sectional study was performed on hospitalized or referring patients taking ACEI or ARB in Isfahan university of medical sciences university hospitals in 2008. 200 patients were randomly entered the study. Chi square and independent sample t-test were used as analysis method (SPSS analysis software Ver. 15). Skin reaction developed in 4.5% Of 200 patients participated in our study. (losartan 4.5%, enalapril 5%). The most common skin complications in patients were: Urticaria, maculopapular rashes and angioedema. The average time from taking medication to development of skin complications was 6.11 months, which in 88.8% of patients skin complications appeared between 1- 2 months from drug prescription. Age and gender were not associated with development of skin reactions. The results of the study showed that both group were similar for development of skin reactions in patients. Furthermore, in patients taking enalapril, the initiation of skin reaction was reported to be faster than patients taking losartan.