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| LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 54
| Issue : 6 | Page : 464-465 |
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Baboon syndrome with lactulose: An apparently inert drug causing a systemic reaction
Diksha Agrawal1, Pooja Arora2
1 Department of Dermatology, Swami Dayanand Hospital, New Delhi, India
2 Department of Dermatology, ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, India
| Date of Submission | 26-Jun-2022 |
| Date of Decision | 04-Aug-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 08-Dec-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 31-Jan-2023 |
Correspondence Address:
Pooja Arora
Room Number 109, OPD Building, Department of Dermatology, ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijp.ijp_449_22
How to cite this article:
Agrawal D, Arora P. Baboon syndrome with lactulose: An apparently inert drug causing a systemic reaction. Indian J Pharmacol 2022;54:464-5 |
Sir,
Symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema (SDRIFE), formerly referred to as Baboon syndrome, is a benign cutaneous drug reaction occurring in the absence of systemic involvement. The genesis involves exposure to systemic agents, irrespective of prior sensitization or cross-reactivity to previously known contact allergens.[1] The lesions appear as symmetrical, sharply demarcated erythema in the intertriginous areas without systemic involvement.[2] We present a case of SDRIFE to lactulose, an apparently inert systemic drug, which was hitherto unreported.
A 51-year-old man came to the dermatology outpatient department with chief complaints of symmetrical reddish itchy lesions over the thighs, bilateral knees, axillae, and elbows of 5-day duration. The lesions appeared few hours after intake of oral lactulose syrup, which was prescribed in view of chronic constipation with hemorrhoids. The patient denied taking any other medication or supplements. Three days later, he took a second dose of lactulose syrup, leading to reappearance of similar lesions on previous sites. No history of similar lesions was obtained in the past.
On examination, the general and systemic examinations were within normal limits. Cutaneous examination revealed the presence of large ill-defined erythematous and indurated plaques along with few vesicles present over the medial aspect of bilateral thighs and flexural aspect of knees, axillae, and elbows [Figure 1]. Patch test was done with standard series of allergens and lactulose syrup and was found to be negative on days 2, 4, and 7, respectively. | Figure 1: Presence of erythema with induration over the medial aspect of thighs (a) and over the flexural aspect of knee with intense inflammation leading to vesiculation (b)
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Based on the above findings and temporal correlation, a diagnosis of SDRIFE secondary to lactulose was made. Moreover, the lesions recurred on the same sites on re-administration of the drug, thus confirming the diagnosis. Lactulose syrup was discontinued, and the patient was prescribed fluticasone propionate ointment 0.05%, emollient, and oral antihistamines. The lesions resolved in 1 week with no sequelae.
SDRIFE, a benign drug reaction secondary to systemic agents, appears as symmetrical, sharply demarcated erythema, peculiarly only in the intertriginous and flexural areas without any systemic involvement.[1],[2] Most commonly implicated drugs are beta-lactam antibiotics, especially amoxicillin, and other drugs such as clindamycin, erythromycin, cotrimoxazole, terbinafine, nystatin, fluconazole, metronidazole, and valacyclovir.[1] A type IV delayed immune response with CD4+ T-cell infiltration has been postulated as the underlying mechanism. The histological features are highly variable with a superficial perivascular infiltrate of mononuclear cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils.[1] The differential diagnosis includes other causes of flexural dermatitis, including allergic contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, Hailey–Hailey disease, inverse psoriasis, and infective causes such as intertrigo and tinea cruris.[1] These were duly ruled out clinically as well as by a negative patch test.
The lesions erupt within a span of few hours to days after intake of the implicated drug.[3] The diagnostic criteria for SDRIFE encompass exposure to systemically administered drug (excluding contact allergens); well-demarcated erythema involving the inguinal, gluteal, perigenital, or perianal area; involvement of one or more other intertriginous areas; symmetrical involvement of affected areas; and absence of any systemic symptoms.[2] Our patient fulfilled the diagnostic criteria based on clinical findings and a negative patch test.
Lactulose, a synthetic disaccharide composed of lactose and galactose, is an osmotic agent taken commonly for treatment of chronic constipation. It is not significantly absorbed in the small intestine but metabolized to monosaccharides by colonic bacteria, and eventually converted to hydrogen, methane, and volatile fatty acids, resulting in known adverse effects such as flatulence and pain abdomen.[4],[5] After colonic metabolism, the osmotic effect throughout the colon ceases as short-chain organic acid metabolites are absorbed therein. Thus, although considered inert, systemic absorption can occur with lactulose, and hence caution is advised in diabetics and patients with galactosemia.[4]
Our case emphasizes that systemic absorption of laxatives can occur and trigger SDRIFE which is hitherto undescribed. Such inert drugs should be kept in mind as a potential cause of a systemic drug reaction.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient has given his consent for his images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patient understand that name and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| » References | |  |
| 1. | Ardern-Jones MR, Lee HY. Benign cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs. In: Griffiths CE, Barker J, Bleiker T, Chalmers R, Creamer D, editors. Rook's textbook of dermatology. 9 th ed., Vol. 2. Edinburgh: Wiley Blackwell; 2016. p. 5-6,118.  |
| 2. | Häusermann P, Harr T, Bircher AJ. Baboon syndrome resulting from systemic drugs: is there strife between SDRIFE and allergic contact dermatitis syndrome? Contact Dermatitis 2004;51:297-310. |
| 3. | Tan SC, Tan JW. Symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2011;11:313-8. |
| 4. | Kot TV, Pettit-Young NA. Lactulose in the management of constipation: A current review. Ann Pharmacother 1992;26:1277-82. |
| 5. | Xing JH, Soffer EE. Adverse effects of laxatives. Dis Colon Rectum 2001;44:1201-9. |
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