[Severe immunoallergic reaction in a patient treated for two months continuously with rifampicin].
BACKGROUND
Rifampicin is a major drug used for the treatment of mycobacterial infections. It is usually well tolerated although cases of immunoallergic events have been reported in discontinuous regimens.


METHODS
We report the case of a 55-year-old man who developed a severe drug reaction after taking rifampicin daily for two months with no interruption. The clinical course was favorable after drug withdrawal. Challenge with other antituberculous drugs did not induce any adverse reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the few cases reported, antituberculous regimens containing rifampicin can cause severe adverse reactions which subside progressively after drug withdrawal.
Fardet
L
L
Service de Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris.
Lalande
V
V
Meyohas
M C
MC
Frottier
J
J
Meynard
J L
JL
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D000906:Antibodies; D012293:Rifampin