Causes of drug-induced photosensitivity: an analysis using FDA adverse event reporting system database

The purpose of this study is to analyze FAERS data to identify cases of drug-induced photosensitivity (DIP), examine demographic patterns, determine the drug classes involved, and highlight emerging trends in these reactions. Additionally, we explore potential signal drugs by mining the relevant reported data, aiming to provide insights for safer clinical use of medications. We reviewed the publicly available FAERS database from 2004 to 2023. Using DIP-related search terms such as "photosensitivity reaction," "polymorphic light eruption," or et al., we identified reports of DIP. The frequency and trends of these reports were then analyzed. Between 2004 and 2023, the FDA received 17,384,824 reports of adverse reactions, with 20,236 of these linked to DIP. After excluding cases with incomplete data on age, gender, or country of origin, the median patient age was 52 years (IQR = 66). Females comprised 55.71% of the cases (11,274), and 66.96% (12,459) of the reports originated from the United States. The top 45 drugs were responsible for 9,810 cases (48.48%). The three drug classes most commonly associated with DIP in the FAERS database were immunosuppressants, monoclonal antibodies, and antineoplastic agents. A disproportionality analysis of the top drugs revealed several newly identified drugs with signals for photosensitivity, including adalimumab, adapalene, secukinumab, and fingolimod. By analyzing publicly available FAERS data, we identified key themes and trends in DIP reactions. Immunosuppressants and monoclonal antibodies show mild trends in DIP occurrence. Additionally, adalimumab, adapalene, secukinumab, and fingolimod are novel drug signals of DIP.