Hypersensitivity reaction to balsalazide
BMJ 2001; 323 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7311.489 (Published 01 September 2001) Cite this as: BMJ 2001;323:489- V Adhiyaman,
- A Vaishnavi,
- S Froese
- Withybush General Hospital, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 2PZ
Balsalazide is used in short term and maintenance treatment of ulcerative colitis. It is a prodrug in which 5-aminosalicylic acid is linked via a diazo bond to 4-aminobenzoyl-β-alanine, an inert and biologically inactive carrier molecule. We report a case of a hypersensitivity reaction to balsalazide, involving pericarditis, an abnormal liver biochemistry profile, and splinter haemorrhages.
A 59 year old woman developed indeterminate patchy pancolitis. She was unable to take mesalazine or olsalazine but had no adverse effects with sulfasalazine 1 g twice daily, which she took as maintenance treatment. Eight months later her symptoms had resolved and she had normal results for inflammatory markers. On request sulfasalazine …