Vancomycin-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Stevens-Jonhson syndrome is a rare immunologic reaction that may involve skin or various mucosal surfaces. The etiology may range from multiple pharmacologic agents to viral infections. Associated findings can range from minimal skin and mucosal involvement to extensive dermal exfoliation, nephritis, lymphadenopathy, hepatitis, and multiple serologic abnormalities. We report a 36 year-old caucasian male who developed a pruritic, raised maculopapular eruption on Day 17 of intravenous vancomycin for treatment of probable bacterial endocarditis. The vancomycin was discontinued. The patient had received a prosthetic aortic valve subsequent to acute rheumatic valve disease 20 years earlier, but had been well until development of endocarditis. The rash became more extensive to involve the torso, abdomen, legs, and arms. His fever persisted, and he developed neutropenia and eosinophilia. Axillary and inguinal lymphadenopathy, pharyngeal irritation, lip swelling, conjunctival injection, and elevated liver function studies also developed following cessation of the vancomycin. Eight days after eruption and fever began, corticosteroid therapy was instituted, with subsequent improvement of symptoms in less than 24 hours. Allergic reactions to vancomycin have included Stevens-Johnson syndrome rarely, and only one other case of adenopathy has been recorded. Most reactions have been in patients with severe renal insufficiency. We believe this patient is the first case of vancomycin-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome in a previously healthy patient to be complicated by lymphadenopathy, hepatitis, and multiple serologic abnormalities.