Severe exfoliative dermatitis caused by strontium ranelate: two cases of a new drug reaction

• Published in: Age and ageing Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 401 - 403
• Main Authors: Smith, Emma V, Shipley, Debbie R V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-05-2010; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Aged; Aged patients; Aged, 80 and over; Bone Density Conservation Agents - adverse effects; Bone disorder agents; Case studies; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Exfoliative - chemically induced; Dermatitis, Exfoliative - pathology; Drug therapy; Elderly patients; Female; Geriatric medicine; Geriatrics; Humans; Inflammation; Morbidity; Older people; Organometallic Compounds - adverse effects; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - drug therapy; Risk factors; Side effects; Skin; Skin - pathology; Steroids; Symptoms; Thiophenes - adverse effects; Treatment Outcome; United States
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afq026

Strontium ranelate is a relatively new drug used as a second-line treatment for osteoporosis, often targeted at older patients. It is known to cause skin rash and rarely drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, but there are no reports of exfoliative dermatitis as a reaction in the literature. We present the first two cases of this adverse effect of the drug, combined with eosinophilia but no systemic symptoms. We illustrate the significant morbidity involved and use of systemic steroid treatment required, highlighting the need for awareness of this reaction in medical and particularly in elderly care communities.