According to a 2008 report issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the anti-seizure medication Dilantin may increase the risk of a condition known as Purple Glove Syndrome. Though the name is odd, Purple Glove Syndrome is so named because this Dilantin side effect causes the skin of the arms to discolor and during purple, causing a patient to look as if they are wearing gloves. In addition to discoloration, Purple Glove syndrome causes pain and local swelling.
Dilantin, the brand name for generic drug phenytoin, has been used intravenously since 1956. However, this medication has been recalled several times due to concern over serious potential side effects. Phenytoin is known to cause serious injuries, including arrhythmias, toxicity, Stevens Johnson Syndrome (a life-threatening skin disease), and hypotension.
According to one medical study conducted at the Mayo Clinic, approximately six percent of their study patients receiving intravenous Dilantin subsequently developed Purple Glove Syndrome. Furthermore, this study found that Purple Glove Syndrome is common among older patients and those who are regularly receiving high doses of Dilantin or generic phenytoin.
Development of Purple Glove Syndrome
The early symptoms of Purple Glove Syndrome often include the discoloration of the skin near the Dilantin injection site approximately two to twelve hours after an injection. This discoloration often turns the local area anywhere from a pale blue to a dark purple. Approximately twelve to sixteen hours after the injection, a patient may begin to develop swelling and the discoloration often spreads to the rest of the arm.
If a patient develops Purple Glove Syndrome following a Dilantin injection, they will often take between two and four weeks to heal. Often, the discoloration and swelling will gradually subside; however, some patients experience significant pain and may suffer some tissue death associated with this Dilantin side effect.
For patients who develop Purple Glove Syndrome, some medical treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms. In many cases, doctors recommend discontinuing the use of Dilantin.
If a loved one or someone you know is suffering from Purple Glove Syndrome, Stevens Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, contact our attorneys to learn specific legal right entitled to the victim and victim’s family.