Antihistamines in Treatment of Gingival Hyperplasia Caused by Diphenylhydantoin

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Since its introduction by Merritt and Putnam in 1938,1 diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin) sodium has become one of the most widely used anticonvulsants. Although it is relatively nontoxic, gingival hyperplasia occurs in up to 50% of patients.2,3 In most instances, proper oral hygiene effectively controls the gingival reaction. In a small number, possibly 2% or 3%, the hyperplasia may become sufficiently prominent to require some modification of dosage or gingivectomy. Not infrequently, it is impossible to find another drug or combination of drugs which has as good an anticonvulsant effect. Since no effective means of preventing or treating the severe reactions has appeared, they may remain therapeutic problems. Our interest in this phenomenon was stimulated by a clinical report (Gaillard4) suggesting that gingival hyperplasia can be modified by the antihistamine chlorprophen-pyridamine maleate (Teldrin Spansules). After initiating a clinical study, we were further encouraged by the work recently reported

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: