Polymorphous light eruption and oral contraceptives.

Abstract

An extreme increase in polymorphous light eruption (PLE) observed during the last 2 years, especially in females, led to an investigation of whether this striking prevalence might be related to a certain degree to oral contraceptive (OC) use. Consequently, 320 female PLE patients were examined. Their age at onset of PLE ranged from 4-59 years. Female patients under age 15 were excluded. 165 patients (52%) had used OCs at some time; 114 females had been using an OC continuously for 2 or more years at the time of the 1st examination. 89 patients had begun OC use prior to the 1st appearance of PLE, 27 of them within 3-5 months prior, the others 6 months to 10 years. 12 of the 89 patients already had discontinued OC 1-5 years prior to the onset of PLE. 76 patients started using OC from 1-3 months and up to 17 years after their 1st PLE attack. 87 patients discontinued OC at least once or twice for 6 months to 4 years. Only 3 of 87 patients reported an improvement of their PLE after discontinuation of OC use. In all 3 patients PLE recurred 2-3 years later at its initial strength. The skin lesions and itching appeared with the same intensity and distribution as during the period of OC use. 14 patients suggested a connection between PLE and pregnancy. 7 females reported their 1st PLE attack after the 1st delivery and 4 after the 2nd delivery; 3 patients reported absence of PLE during the 1st pregnancy despite sun exposure. The study results make doubtful a connection between OC use and the course of PLE.