Beta-lactam antibiotic-induced pseudoporphyria

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004 Aug;51(2 Suppl):S80-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2003.08.023.

Abstract

A case of beta-lactam antibiotic-induced pseudoporphyria is presented. A 24-year-old African American woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis developed tense bullae on her forehead and cheeks after exposure to ampicillin-sulbactam and cefepime. Histologically, the lesions were similar to porphyria cutanea tarda, but without the associated porphyrin abnormalities. The lesions resolved spontaneously on cessation of the antibiotics.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Abscess / complications
  • Abdominal Abscess / drug therapy
  • Ampicillin / adverse effects*
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / complications
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Biopsy
  • Fallopian Tube Diseases / complications
  • Fallopian Tube Diseases / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Forehead
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Diseases / complications
  • Ovarian Diseases / drug therapy
  • Pruritus / chemically induced
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Sickle Cell Trait / complications
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / chemically induced*
  • Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / pathology
  • Sulbactam / adverse effects*
  • Thrombocytopenia / complications

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • sultamicillin
  • Ampicillin
  • Sulbactam