Vol.100 No.9 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 100 No. 9 September 2007
A Case Report: Steroid Induced Hypersensitivity
Reaction in a Patient with Bell's Palsy
Kazuhiko Yamamura, Ichiro Morita and Tomoaki Kai
(Japan Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital)
Masatoshi Horiuchi
(Misyuku Hospital)
Glucocorticoids are effective medications and have been used for a multitude of indications. However, adverse effects and intolerance reactions have been reported since 1974.
We report a steroid-induced hypersensitivity reaction in a case with Bell's palsy. A 40-year-old male consulted our out-patient clinic due to right peripheral facial palsy.
As soon as he was injected with the hydrocortisone sodium succinate, he developed erythema all over his body, moderate itchiness and respiratory distress. His condition was improved immediately after the cessation of infusion.
The medication for facial palsy was altered from infusion to oral prednisolone. Thereafter, he showed no hypersensitivity reaction. Intradermal reaction was positive for three steroids with succinate-ester and negative for two steroids with phosphate-ester. We speculated that the succinate-ester component of hydrocortisone played a pivotal role in the anaphylactoid reaction in this case.
Key words : steroid, hypersensitivity reaction, Bell's palsy