The Occurrence of Etoricoxib-Induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome With Oral Manifestations in a Female Patient: A Case Study

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) constitutes a rather uncommon, and rarely fatal hypersensitivity reaction that primarily impacts the skin and mucous membranes and in certain cases may be attributed to drug administration. The aim of this article is to present a case of etoricoxib-induced SJS in a 46-year-old, female patient. The patient presented herself, as a medical emergency, to the Department of Oral Medicine/Pathology, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, reporting pain, especially acute pain while eating certain foods, discomfort, dysphagia, and a wound in the left half of the hard palate. The clinical examination revealed a broad ulcer, in the left half of the hard palate as well as multiple ulcerations and erosions in the upper and lower lip. Her medical history was clear; however, the patient mentioned to have received etoricoxib, due to severe back pain, one day prior to our clinical examination. The patient received methylprednisolone 16 mg, twice per day, for two days, followed by methylprednisolone 8 mg, twice per day, for two more days. Her symptoms resigned and since the connection between etoricoxib and SJS was established, the patient was advised to avoid etoricoxib and be wary of adverse effects, when taking drugs especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. This is one of the first case reports in the literature, linking etoricoxib administration with the emergence of SJS, highlighting the importance of pharmacovigilance. The up-to-date registration of drug-induced adverse effects is of immense importance to protect future patients. SJS does not have a defined treatment strategy. Therefore, most patients are given supportive care and symptomatic treatment, which most commonly involves corticosteroids and antivirals such as acyclovir.