Spleen rupture secondary to anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS) is a rare complication associated with the use of anti-epileptic medications. The syndrome's main symptoms are cutaneous eruptions, fever, hepatitis, and lymphadenopathy. We describe a 23-year-old woman who developed AHS 2 months after starting phenytoin therapy. She presented with fever, orofacial edema, skin rash, and lymphadenopathy. Four days after admission, she developed agonizing epigastric pain with diffuse epigastric tenderness. An abdominal CT scan demonstrated splenomegaly with a large, hypodense area involving the upper half of the spleen, consistent with splenic rupture. She was managed medically in an effort to avoid splenectomy. There are no other documented cases of spleen rupture linked to AHS. A possible mechanism is the alteration of lymphocytic function due to the accumulation of cytotoxic metabolites and infiltration of the spleen with lymphocytic cells, distending the capsule and predisposing it for rupture. We believe that the case presented here should increase awareness of the potentially life-threatening complications associated with AHS.