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Serum sickness secondary to ciprofloxacin use
1Pharmacy Services, John F Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Indio, CA 92201.
Veterinary and Human Toxicology
|December 1, 1994
Summary
A rare serum sickness-like reaction occurred in a patient taking ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic. Prompt treatment with corticosteroids led to rapid symptom improvement, highlighting a potential adverse drug event.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- Serum sickness-like reactions (SSLRs) are uncommon adverse drug events.
- Various medications have been linked to SSLRs.
- Ciprofloxacin is a widely prescribed antibiotic in the United States.
Observation:
- A 62-year-old female presented with polyarthralgias, myalgia, and a generalized urticarial rash after a 5-day course of ciprofloxacin.
- Initial treatment for suspected bacteremia with cefazolin and gentamicin was discontinued due to clinical worsening.
- Intravenous methylprednisolone therapy resulted in significant improvement of symptoms within 18 hours.
Findings:
- This case report details a possible serum sickness-like reaction secondary to ciprofloxacin.
- The patient experienced a full recovery after transitioning to oral steroid therapy.
- This is only the second reported case implicating ciprofloxacin in serum sickness-like reactions.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider ciprofloxacin as a potential cause of serum sickness-like reactions.
- Awareness of this adverse event is crucial for patient safety.
- Further investigation into ciprofloxacin-induced SSLRs may be warranted.