DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY TO FLURBIPROFEN

Immune-mediated reactions to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAI Ds) are unusual, and true allergy to the drug flurbiprofen has never b een documented. We observed a patient who developed a maculopapular ra sh 48 h after beginning oral therapy with this drug, and 2 days later, angioedema and hypotension. Patch tests with flurbiprofen were positi ve 48 and 72 h after application. The clinical and allergologic featur es of this case strongly suggest type IV hypersensitivity. Patch testi ng with NSAIDs is useful for confirming clinical diagnoses of delayed hypersensitivity to these drugs.