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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
10:22
Basophil Activation Test for Investigation of IgE-Mediated Mechanisms in Drug Hypersensitivity
Published on: September 16, 2011
Fixed drug eruption due to ibuprofen.
C Villanueva Alvarez Santullano1, V Tover Flores, M De Barrio Fernández
1MIR 3, Unidad de Alergia, Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
Allergologia Et Immunopathologia
|February 1, 2007
Summary
Fixed drug eruption from ibuprofen is rare. A woman experienced oral lesions after ibuprofen use, which recurred upon re-exposure, confirming ibuprofen as the cause.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a specific type of adverse drug reaction.
- Ibuprofen is a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
- FDE due to ibuprofen is infrequently documented in medical literature.
Observation:
- A 61-year-old female patient presented with oral mucosal lesions (erythema, pain) after ibuprofen administration.
- Lesions recurred in the oral mucosa upon subsequent ibuprofen and erythromycin treatment.
- New erythematosus-violaceous maculae appeared during the second episode.
Findings:
- A positive topical challenge test with 5% ibuprofen on a residual lesion confirmed the diagnosis.
- The case highlights ibuprofen as a potential trigger for fixed drug eruptions.
- Recurrence of FDE symptoms upon re-exposure to the causative agent was observed.
Implications:
- This case expands the known spectrum of adverse drug reactions associated with ibuprofen.
- Clinicians should consider ibuprofen in the differential diagnosis of recurrent oral mucosal lesions.
- Awareness of ibuprofen-induced FDE is crucial for patient management and prevention of further reactions.
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