Evaluation of the role of sulphasalazine in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis

Leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and lymphadenopathy associated with sulphasalazine

We report a 19-year-old woman with psoriasis who developed a severe allergic reaction within 1 week of commencement of sulphasalazine; her skin becoming erythrodermic with associated lymphadenopathy, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. Clinical signs and haematological abnormalities rapidly returned to normal on discontinuation of sulphasalazine. It is important to monitor carefully haematological indices in the early stages of treatment with this drug.