Laryngeal edema in drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome due to sulfasalazine

Abstract

We present a case of a 47-year-old man with drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. The patient had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and sulfasalazine was prescribed 4 weeks before admission. Initial symptoms with fever and rash worsened even after a discontinuation of the medication, and concomitant symptoms developed including typical manifestations of facial rash and edema sparing the periorbital area, as well as atypical laryngeal edema. Rheumatologists should be aware that sulfasalazine is derived from sulfonamide and can possibly induce DRESS syndrome, one of the life-threatening drug eruptions.

Keywords: DRESS syndrome; laryngeal edema; sulfasalazine.