Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2004
A young woman
Area of Science:
Neurology
Dermatology
Rheumatology
Background:
A patient presented with symptoms suggestive of an enteroviral infection, including encephalitis and a generalized skin rash.
The patient had a history of mixed connective tissue disease.
Observation:
Despite initial suspicion of enteroviral infection, no infectious agent was identified.
The patient developed encephalitis and a generalized skin rash.
Findings:
The illness was attributed to an adverse reaction to the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug fenbufen.
The adverse reaction occurred on a background of mixed connective tissue disease.
Implications:
This case highlights the importance of considering drug-induced reactions in the differential diagnosis of encephalitis and rash.
It underscores the potential for fenbufen to cause severe adverse events, particularly in patients with underlying autoimmune conditions.
Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for drug reactions when evaluating complex presentations in patients with connective tissue diseases.