Hyperpigmentation mimicking Laugier syndrome, levodopa therapy and Addison's disease

✍ Scribed by J Vega Gutiérrez; A Miranda Romero; G Martínez; MV Torrero; M López de Juan

• Book ID: 104470235
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 131 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0926-9959
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-3083.2003.00431.x

✦ Synopsis

ABSTRACT

The Laugier–Hunziker syndrome is an acquired, idiopathic, benign mucocutaneous hypermelanosis that usually occurs on the lips and oral mucosa, although it may appear at other sites. Nails are frequently involved, mainly forming longitudinal hyperpigmented bands. We report the case of a patient that presented a typical picture of this entity, nearly 1 year after the beginning of treatment with levodopa. Two years after the first lesions occurred, she developed Addison's disease. The patient suffered from a diffuse discrete hyperpigmentation (it was more remarkable on exposed areas) and an intensification of the melanotic macules that were previously noticeable before in oral and genital mucosa, fingers, toes and nails. Hormonal replacement treatment enabled the control of laboratory and general manifestations and to decrease the degree of mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation considerably, despite initial hyperpigmented lesions persisting in described areas.