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Cutaneous adverse reactions to sulfonamide antibiotics
Weeranut Chantachaeng1, Leena Chularojanamontri, Kanokvalai Kulthanan
1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University.
Background:
Sulfonamides are divided into two main groups which are sulfonamide antibiotics and sulfonamide non-antibiotics. The wide use of sulfonamide antibiotics leads to increasing incidence of sulfonamide cutaneous reactions.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to explore the cutaneous manifestations induced by sulfonamide antibiotics in a large number of Thai patients, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and non-HIV infected individuals. The second purpose is to determine the risk factors for development of sulfonamide cutaneous reactions.
Methods:
We retrospectively studied 191 patients with sulfonamide antibiotics cutaneous reactions attending the adverse drug reaction center, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok between 2006 and 2010.
Results:
Majority of the patients was female (59.7%).Maculopapular rash was the most common cutaneous manifestation (37.7%) followed by fixed drug eruption (22%), angioedema with or without urticaria (12.6%) and urticaria alone (12%). Among those with known HIV serology, maculopapular eruption occurred more frequently in the HIV positive group while fixed drug eruption occurred more frequently in HIV-negative group.
Conclusion:
From our study, there were no significant determination factors to develop serious drug reactions. However, the HIV-positive status and lower level of CD4 count had a tendency to increase risk of developing serious cutaneous reactions.
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