Allopurinol hypersensitivity: a potentially life threatening reaction

Allopurinol-induced pustular eruption: an unusually mild case

Pustular drug eruptions are uncommon and usually present with an acute illness. A 75-year-old-woman presented with a widespread pruritic pustular erythematous skin rash. She was otherwise well and had been commenced on allopurinol for gout 3 weeks before developing the rash. A skin biopsy was consistent with a pustular drug eruption, with features of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). Allopurinol was the probable causative agent and withdrawal resulted in resolution of her eruption within 6 weeks. A diagnosis of AGEP was considered; however, this patient did not fulfil the diagnostic criteria.