Azathioprine hypersensitivity presenting as cardiogenic shock and Sweet's syndrome in a patient with microscopic polyangiitis.

Abstract

Azathioprine hypersensitivity is a clinical syndrome which may manifest from isolated fever and rash to multi-organ failure. This rare condition is usually self-limiting following the discontinuation of azathioprine. Therefore, it is important to maintain a high index of clinical suspicion for hypersensitivity reactions with azathioprine therapy. We report a case of azathioprine hypersensitivity in a 69-year-old woman who developed cardiogenic shock and Sweet's syndrome following the initiation of azathioprine for her underlying autoantibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA) associated microscopic polyangiitis.

• Authors: Arthur Turow, Tuck Y Yong, Jie Shen Fok, Jordan Y Z Li
• Journal: Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) (Intern Med) Vol. 51 Issue 14 Pg. 1889-92 ( 2012) ISSN: 1349-7235 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 22821107 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Azathioprine

Topics

• Aged
• Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic (blood)
• Azathioprine (adverse effects)
• Drug Hypersensitivity (diagnosis, etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (adverse effects)
• Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping
• Microscopic Polyangiitis (complications, drug therapy, immunology)
• Shock, Cardiogenic (diagnosis, etiology, therapy)
• Sweet Syndrome (diagnosis, etiology)