Leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and lymphadenopathy associated with sulphasalazine

Drug-Induced Neutropenia During Treatment of Non-Neoplastic Dermatologic Diseases: A Review

Idiosyncratic drug-induced neutropenia (DIN) is a rare, potentially fatal adverse reaction. A literature search was performed on Pubmed and Embase, targeting articles indicating neutropenia as a complication during the treatment of non-neoplastic dermatological disorders. In 66 identified articles, the common incriminated drugs included conventional oral immunomodulators, topical cytotoxic agents, antibacterials, antifungals, biologics and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and retinoids, with dapsone being reported most often. The duration of drug exposure before the diagnosis of neutropenia varied, but mostly ranged from days to weeks. The majority of patients recovered after drug discontinuation and supportive management including antibiotics and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, but fatal cases were reported. The proposed pathogenesis of DIN consists of direct drug toxicity and immune-mediated reaction. Certain genetic variants, individual variability in enzyme efficiency, and concomitant use of other drugs may increase the risk of DIN. Being familiar with the most commonly implicated agents and risk factors helps early identification and prompt management of this potentially fatal complication.

Management of arthropathy in inflammatory bowel diseases

The most common extra-intestinal manifestation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is articular involvement, with a prevalence ranging between 17% and 39%. It is frequently characterized by an involvement of the axial joints but may also be associated with peripheral arthritis. The target of therapy in the management of arthritis associated with IBD is to reduce the inflammation and prevent any disability and/or deformity. This requires active cooperation between gastroenterologist and rheumatologist. The treatment of axial involvement has focused on the combination of exercise with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Immunomodulators have been efficacious in patients with peripheral arthritis and other extra-intestinal manifestations, but they are not effective for the treatment of axial symptoms of spondylitis. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α inhibitors have been proven to be highly effective in the treatment of IBD patients which are steroid-dependent or refractory to conventional therapy and in patients with associated articular manifestations. The treatment of peripheral involvement and/or enthesitis and/or dactylitis is based on local steroid injections, while sulfasalazine and/or low doses of systemic steroids may be useful in case of inadequate response to intra-articular steroids. Sulfasalazine induces only a little improvement in peripheral arthritis. Immunomodulators such as methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine and leflunomide show their efficacy in some patients with peripheral arthritis and other extra-intestinal components. TNF-α inhibitors should be considered the first-line therapeutic approach when moderate-to-severe luminal Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is associated with polyarthritis. The aim of this review is to provide a fair summary of current treatment options for the arthritis associated with IBD.

Comparison of the effect of mesalazine and sulfasalazine on laboratory parameters: a retrospective observational study

PURPOSE

Mesalazine and sulfasalazine are commonly used drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. However, there have been few reports with a strict statistical analysis comparing the effects of mesalazine and sulfasalazine on laboratory test results. Therefore, we designed a retrospective cohort study to investigate whether or not differences in clinical laboratory parameters exist between mesalazine and sulfasalazine users.

METHODS

We used data from the Clinical Data Warehouse of Nihon University School of Medicine to identify cohorts of new mesalazine users (n = 303) and sulfasalazine users (n = 67). We used a multivariate regression model and regression adjustment with the propensity score to adjust for differences in baseline covariates between mesalazine and sulfasalazine users, and compared serum levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and hematological parameters including red and white blood cell counts and platelet count.

RESULTS

After adjustment, in sulfasalazine users, the mean values for all tests showed no significant change between baseline and during the exposure period. In contrast, in mesalazine users, the mean WBC and platelet counts during the exposure period were significantly lower than those at baseline. Furthermore, mean serum urea nitrogen level during the exposure period was significantly higher than that at baseline. In terms of mean changes in laboratory test values during the exposure period compared with baseline, the reduction of platelet count in mesalazine users was significant in comparison to that in sulfasalazine users.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that the hematological adverse effects of mesalazine treatment might be greater than those of sulfasalazine treatment.

DRESS syndrome in a patient on sulfasalazine for rheumatoid arthritis

DRESS (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) is a drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome that can mimic malignant lymphoma. We report a case in a 63-year-old woman who had been on sulfasalazine for 2 months to treat rheumatoid arthritis. She was admitted a few days after onset of a flu-like syndrome with a pruriginous maculopapular erythema initially involving the face, trunk, and proximal limbs; a fever of 41 degrees C; and enlargement of the liver, spleen, and several peripheral lymph nodes. Blood tests showed marked eosinophilia (9300/mm3), lymphocytosis, hyperbasophilic cells, and severe inflammation. DRESS syndrome was diagnosed. An indirect immunofluorescence assay for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) was positive, supporting recent HHV6 infection. Primary HHV6 infection and HHV6 reactivation have been incriminated in the genesis of DRESS syndrome. DRESS syndrome continues to carry a high mortality rate of about 10%. Drugs previously reported to cause DRESS syndrome include sulfasalazine, hydantoin, d-penicillamine, allopurinol, hydrochlorothiazide, and cyclosporine. A high index of suspicion for DRESS syndrome should be maintained in patients receiving these drugs. Serological tests for HHV6 should be performed routinely in patients with suspected DRESS syndrome, although uncertainty persists about the link between HHV6 infection and DRESS syndrome.

[DRESS (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) syndrome after sulfasalazine and carmazepine: report of two cases]

INTRODUCTION

To better individualize drug hypersensitivity reaction, Bocquet et al. have recently called this adverse drug reaction DRESS (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms).

EXEGESIS

We report two cases of DRESS and highlight the main characteristics of this syndrome. Two patients presented severe febrile skin eruption following drug intake (carbamazepine or sulfazalazine), with hypereosinophilia and hepatitis. All symptoms resolved after drug withdrawal and corticosteroid therapy. DRESS syndrome is an idiosyncratic reaction characterised by febrile eruption, occurring 2 to 6 weeks after the beginning of the treatment, accompanied by systemic symptoms and biological abnormalities (hypereosinophilia, hepatitis). Some complications can occur. This syndrome can be fatal. Numerous drugs can be responsible for this reaction to medication. The physiopathology has not yet been elucidated, and the treatment is not codified, but the triggering agent must immediately be stopped. Corticotherapy is sometimes used.

CONCLUSION

It is important to recognize this entity recently named DRESS syndrome because it can mimic other pathologies, is potentially serious, and because withdrawal of the incriminating drug is imperative.