Treatment of Disseminated Granuloma Annulare With Potassium Iodide

TLDR: This study studies the favorable effect in certain granulomatous panniculitises of potassium iodide taken orally in a dosage of 500 to 900 mg/day reported by Schulz and Whiting 2 prompted the following study.

Abstract: To the Editor.— Yet to be found is a completely safe and effective treatment for disseminated granuloma annulare, an often refractory dermatosis that is marring, if not disabling. Cryotherapy, locally applied steroids, diethylstilbestrol, and, most recently, chlorambucil 1 have met with varying success. The favorable effect in certain granulomatous panniculitises of potassium iodide taken orally in a dosage of 500 to 900 mg/day reported by Schulz and Whiting 2 prompted the following study. Method and Materials.— After obtaining informed consent, four adult patients (patients 1, 2, and 4 were women; patient 3 was a man) with biopsy-verified disseminated granuloma annulare began therapy of either a saturated solution of potassium iodide or a placebo (water) in a randomized, double-blind study, beginning with 3 drops three times a day with meals and increasing to a maximum dose of 1 mL/day, which is equivalent to approximately 900 mg of potassium iodide per day.