Cefoperazone induced hypersensitivity vasculitis

• Main Authors: Katiyar Subodh, Prakash Shivesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2009-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dermatology
• Subjects: <i>Cefoperazone; hypersensitivity vasculitis; purpura </i>
• Online Access: http://www.e-ijd.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5154;year=2009;volume=54;issue=5;spage=66;epage=67;aulast=Katiyar
• ISSN: 0019-5154; 1998-3611

Cefoperazone has been reported to cause vasculitic complications only once before. Here, we report yet another case of hypersensitivity vasculitis associated with cefoperazone. A 28-year-old lady with pneumococcal pneumonia developed hypersensitivity vasculitis on the fifth day of cefoperazone therapy. Hypersensitivity vasculitis resolved gradually after removal of the agent and did not recur. Although hypersensitivity vasculitis has multiple causes, coexistence of hypersensitivity vasculitis and cefoperazone treatment, and the quick resolution of the disease after removal of the drug, strongly favors a causative relationship. To our knowledge, this is the second report of a hypersensitivity vasculitis associated with cefoperazone and hence the drug should be considered as a possible cause while evaluating a case of drug induced hypersensitivity vasculitis.