Sulphasalazine induced lung disease

Abstract

Sulphasalazine is a drug which is widely used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Although a high incidence of side effects has been reported, pulmonary complications of treatment have not been described previously. The clinical, haematological, and radiological abnormalities which occurred in one patient two months after sulphasalazine was started are described. Withdrawal of treatment was followed by recovery; reintroduction of the drug caused a relapse associated with eosinophilia and impaired pulmonary function.

We suggest that the possibility of drug-induced lung disease should be considered in any patient who develops symptoms or radiographic evidence of pulmonary disease while receiving treatment with sulphasalazine.