Churg-Strauss syndrome associated with hypersensitivity to acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is a widely used antipyretic drug. We describe a 64-year-old Japanese woman who developed typical Churg-Strauss syndrome after frequent use of acetaminophen. Following the ingestion of acetaminophen, she exhibited various allergic reactions such as asthmatic attacks, pyrexia and petechiae on legs. In the lymphocyte transformation test, a positive reaction to acetaminophen was detected. A muscle biopsy revealed massive extravascular eosinophil infiltration and a necrotizing vasculitis. Hypersensitivity to acetaminophen may be implicated in the development of Churg-Strauss syndrome in this case.