title: Fatal massive hepatic necrosis: a probable hypersensitivity reaction to sulfasalazine.
abstract: Sulfasalazine (salicylazosulfapyridine) is a commonly prescribed oral medication for inflammatory bowel disease. We report a case of a 15-yr-old boy with ulcerative colitis who developed a generalized hypersensitivity reaction with a serum sickness-like syndrome and severe hepatotoxicity while taking sulfasalazine, perphenazine, and amitriptyline. The injury to the liver persisted for 5 months after withdrawal of the drugs, and the patient died of terminal hepatic failure with massive hepatic necrosis. Severe hepatic toxicity to sulfasalazine is uncommon, but it can be fatal.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribe
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Benkov
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Thung
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: LeLeiko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012460:Sulfasalazine