[Current findings on drug eruptions].

Drug eruptions are the result of a systemic application of medicaments. They depend on immunologic and non-immunologic mechanisms. With the exception of a few medicaments, skin tests with drugs are not very reliable. Patch-tests may only be recommended with regard to a macular or a maculo-papular rash, because cell-mediated immunologic mechanisms are involved. The most valuable in vitro test is still the lymphocyte transformation test. New in vitro test procedures, e.g. based on lymphokines, are under investigation. Regarding the clinical practice, drug eruptions brought about by antibiotics, cytostatics, modern anti-rheumatics and anti-inflammatory agents, some psychotropics, as well as newer cardiovascular drugs are of special interest. All these important groups of drugs are constantly expanding. Thus the dermatologist has to reckon with their cutaneous side effects.