Pulmonary infiltrates and eosinophilia associated with sulphasalazine administration

A case of blood eosinophilia with pulmonary infiltrates associated with sulphasalazine therapy in a patient with ulcerative colitis is described. These manifestations resolved when sulphasalazine was ceased and recurred with rechallenge. The failure of recurrence after treatment with mesalazine (5-aminosalicyclic acid in a sustained release preparation) suggests that sulphapyridine is the component responsible for this reaction.