Breath malodor in an asthmatic patient caused by side-effects of medication: a case report and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this report is to document the presence of dimethyl sulfide in mouth air as the predominant volatile sulfur compound (VSC) in an asthmatic patient who was regularly taking suplatast tosilate.


METHODS
The patient was a 33-year-old woman who complained of bad breath. She had been diagnosed as having asthma and was receiving periodical medical examinations once a month. VSC in her mouth air were measured with a gas chromatograph. Oral physiotherapy was also carried out to remove any oral malodor of which the source was intraoral.


RESULTS
With the improvement in oral hygiene and periodontal conditions, the level of VSC was reduced but dimethyl sulfide still remained as the predominant VSC.


CONCLUSIONS
Dimethyl sulfide metabolized from suplatast tosilate may be a potential cause of halitosis.
Murata
T
T
Division of Preventive Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan. fuji3@dent.niigata-u.ac.jp
Fujiyama
Y
Y
Yamaga
T
T
Miyazaki
H
H
D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001190:Arylsulfonates / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001190:Arylsulfonates; D013440:Sulfides; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds; C073028:suplatast tosilate; C004784:dimethyl sulfide