A Case of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome with Acute Renal Failure Induced by Rhus-Chicken Ingestion

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe, diffuse mucocutaneous reactions that can be elicited by drugs, infection, malignancy, and herbal supplements. A wide variety of mucocutaneous events, such as systemic contact dermatitis, have been reported to be elicited by Rhus chicken, although cases of SJS and TEN are rare. Here, we present a case of SJS caused by Rhus-chicken ingestion. A 48-year-old man who wanted to improve his health and treat a gastrointestinal problem ingested Rhus chicken in the traditional manner. Twenty-four hours later, he developed a multiple erythematous maculopapular skin rash with vesicles and bullaes on 30% of the body surface and multiple erosions on the lips. He was diagnosed with SJS/TEN and showed characteristic clinical findings induced by Rhus chicken. After the patient stopped Rhus-chicken ingestion and received methylprednisolone and antibiotics, his symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings improved. With this case, we emphasize that SJS and TEN can occur after ingesting Rhus chicken, although the incidence is very low. (Korean J Med 2011;81:680-684)