2019 Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 15-21
A woman in her 60s developed systemic diffuse erythema, swelling of the eyelids, bulbar conjunctival congestion, and erosion of the lips. These symptoms developed 3 days after she took a general cold medicine (Benza○R Block○R L ; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Osaka, Japan) while infected with inuenza type A. Although her clinical manifestations resembled those of StevensJohnson syndrome, histopathological examination of her skin did not indicate epidermal necrosis. She was diagnosed with erythema multiforme and treated using an oral steroid. After the symptoms had resolved, we performed a patch test for Benza○R Block○R L, which was positive. We also performed a patch test for the components of Benza○R Block○R L and found that her erythema multiforme-type drug eruption was induced by pseudoephedrine. The drug lymphocyte stimulation test of Benza○R Block○R L was negative. Many general cold medicines and Chinese herbs include pseudoephedrine. When patients develop severe drug eruptions, as in the present case, it is important that we identify the components of the causal drugs to ensure that patients select appropriate drugs in the future. Skin Research, 18 : 15-21, 2019
