Vitiligo-like depigmentation associated with Xuesaitong capsule treatment.

Xuesaitong capsule, which is a Chinese herbal monomer preparation consisting of Panax notoginseng saponins, has been mainly used to treat microcirculatory disturbance-associated diseases. Dermatological adverse events include skin rash and pruritus, but pigmentary changes not yet been reported. A 21-year-old Chinese man presented with depigmented lesions on the hands and waist. For the previous six months he had self-medicated with Xuesaitong (300 mg/ day) for glomerular disease. After 6 days of treatment depigmenting lesions appeared on his face. Two weeks later, the lesions had progressed and involved the chest, back, waist, forearms and hands. He denied any previous skin lesions at these sites. Xuesaitong was immediately discontinued by the patient himself. The lesions slightly repigmented one week after drug withdrawal. Spontaneous repigmentation on most of the depigmented lesions was noted over the following two months. There was no personal or family history of vitiligo, other depigmenting disorders or autoimmune diseases. The patient did not receive any treatment for vitiligo. Clinical examination revealed depigmented macules (Fig. 1a-c). Routine investigations of blood, urine, renal