Drug allergy in Sjögren's syndrome

Allergic disorders and their risk factors in primary Sjögren's syndrome

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of allergic disorders in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), compare it with that of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and examine the risk factors in patients with pSS.

Methods

We retrospectively examined the records of patients diagnosed with pSS and RA who regularly visited our department between 2010 and 2020. Allergic disorders included drug allergy, food allergy, allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), allergic rhinitis (AR)/allergic conjunctivitis (AC), and asthma.

Results

Patients with pSS (292 patients) had a higher prevalence of food allergy, drug allergy, and AR/AC than those with RA (413 patients). The multivariate analysis revealed that patients with pSS who had drug allergy had a higher prevalence of food allergy, higher eosinophil levels, and higher positivity rates of anti-SS-related antigen A (SSA) antibodies than those without drug allergy; those with food allergy had a higher rate of ACD than those without food allergy and vice versa; those with AR/AC had a higher rate of ACD and asthma and higher eosinophil levels than those without AR/AC; those with asthma had a higher rate of AR/AC than those without asthma.

Conclusions

Patients with pSS had a higher prevalence of allergic disorders than those with RA. Among patients with pSS, the risk factors for drug allergy were food allergy, higher eosinophil levels, and positivity for anti-SSA antibodies, the risk factor for food allergy was ACD and vice versa, the risk factors for AR/AC were ACD, asthma, and high eosinophil levels, and the risk factor for asthma was AR/AC.

Drug allergy and autoimmune diseases

Systemic autoimmune diseases are reportedly associated with a high frequency of drug allergies. In particular, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) have recently drawn attention. Based on previous reports, drug allergies have been reported in 17.1-63%, 7-40.1%, and 17.6-54% of patients with SS, SLE, and AOSD patients, respectively. Antimicrobial agents, including sulfa drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are the most common causative agents of drug allergies. However, few studies have examined in detail the relationship between drug eruptions, a major symptom of drug allergy, and systemic autoimmune diseases, and their actual status remains unclear. These autoimmune diseases commonly exhibit a diverse range of skin manifestations in the course of these diseases, rendering it may be difficult to determine whether it is a true drug eruption. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), a fatal, severe drug eruption, has also been associated with autoimmune diseases. The development of SS-like symptoms after SJS/TEN onset and high prevalence of anti-SS-A antibodies in SJS/TEN are intriguing observations. Although the presence of SLE is known to be a risk factor for SJS/TEN, common pathological conditions, such as excessive immune status, abnormal function of regulatory T cells, and neutrophil extracellular traps in autoimmune diseases such as SS and SLE, are potentially involved in the development of drug eruptions.

Adverse drug reactions in Sjögren's syndrome. Frequent allergic reactions and a specific trimethoprim-associated systemic reaction

Trimethoprim-associated systemic reactions, including aseptic meningitis, have been reported to be very rare adverse drug reactions. Patients with Sjögren's syndrome have been overrepresented, but no epidemiological surveys of the reaction have been conducted. To study the overall frequency of adverse drug reactions, and especially trimethoprim-associated reactions, we interviewed 85 primary Sjögren's syndrome patients and compared the results with those of 45 similarly interviewed osteoarthritis patients. Antimicrobial allergy was more common among Sjögren's syndrome patients than in osteoarthritis patients (46% vs. 27%). Eleven Sjögren's syndrome patients (13%), but no osteoarthritis patient, had experienced at least a partial, non-allergic systemic reaction with trimethoprim. Of them five (6%) had had a full-blown systemic reaction including both chills/fever and headache/backache and at least one of the following: malaise, vomiting, dizziness, confusion or meningeal irritation. Our findings confirm that allergic reactions to antimicrobials are frequent in Sjögren's syndrome. In addition to allergic reactions Sjögren's syndrome patients are prone to a specific trimethoprim-associated systemic reaction. This should be remembered when prescribing antimicrobials.

Spongiotic annular erythema in SS-A/SS-B antibody negative Sjögren's syndrome

We reported four cases of Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) who manifested a new type of annular erythema that differs from the previously described annular erythema seen in anti-SS-A/SS-B antibody positive SjS in both clinical and histological findings. Characteristic histological features are the presence of spongiotic changes around the acrosyringium and perivascular lymphocytic infiltration without liquefaction degeneration or epidermal change, suggesting lupus erythematosus. No complement or immunoglobulin depositions are demonstrated along the basement membrane zone or around blood vessels. Clinically, this type of erythema usually appears on the trunk or extremities with itchy sensations, especially in summer, which contrasts with the preferential occurrence of the previously reported SjS related annular erythema on the facial skin in winter. Immunologically, all four cases lacked anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B antibodies, but possessed positive anti-microsome antibodies or thyroid tests. In three cases, metal allergy was demonstrated by patch test, which might suggest that the sweat duct is the primary target of excreted metals in this condition and that underlying SjS might play some role in the higher prevalence of metal allergy or in induction of sweat duct injury, similar to the interstitial nephritis which is now thought to be an exocrine manifestation of SjS.

A case of drug eruption due to simultaneous sensitization with three different kinds of drugs

We reported a case of drug eruption induced by combined treatment with three different kinds of drugs, amoxapine, mexiletine hydrochloride and cefaclor. A 63-year-old Japanese woman suffering from 11 years of standing reflex sympathetic dystrophy developed multiple erythematous papules on her trunk and extremities after taking 14 kinds of drugs. The provocation challenge produced positive reactions to amoxapine, mexiletine hydrochloride, and cefaclor, but was negative to the other drugs. We discussed the mechanism of simultaneous sensitization to three different kinds of drugs in our case.

Allergic disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus

Allergic disorders commonly occur in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and allergies to some drugs may occasionally be related to disease flares. We evaluated the prevalence of several types of allergy in 132 patients with SLE and their families and compared the SLE patients with a control group of 66 patients with non-lupus disorders. Total IgE levels were tested in 117 SLE patients and 61 controls. Eighty-three of the 132 SLE patients (63%) had a history of at least one type of allergic disorder. This prevalence was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than that of the control group (20 of 66 controls). The prevalence of drug allergy (38% vs. 17%; P < 0.005), skin allergy (36% vs. 17%; P < 0.01) and insect allergy (14% vs. 2%; P < 0.02) were significantly higher in SLE patients when compared with controls. Family members of SLE patients had an increased prevalence of at least one type of allergy (55% vs. 24%; P < 0.0001), allergic rhinitis (30% vs. 14%; P < 0.02), asthma (25% vs. 9% P < 0.02), and both rhinitis or asthma (44% vs. 20%; P < or = 0.002). The presence of allergy both in the patient and in the family was more frequent in SLE patients than controls (42% vs. 15%; P < 0.001). We found no differences in total IgE levels between the two groups. Drug, skin and insect allergies were particularly frequent in SLE patients. We also found a high prevalence of rhinitis and asthma in their families.