Stevens‐Johnson syndrome: A rare complication of esomeprazole

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is a commonly prescribed drug for peptic ulcer. Serious adverse events, such as Stevens‐Johnson syndrome (SJS), are very rare. A 58‐year‐old man had been experiencing tarry stools and endoscopic evaluation revealed active duodenal ulcer bleeding. After the failure of endoscopic therapy, arterial embolization resulted in successful hemostasis. The patient was administered PPI to prevent recurrent ulcer bleeding. High fever and generalized skin rash developed on hospital day 16 and subseqnent evaluation suggested esomeprazole associated SJS. Although rare, clinicians should be aware of this rare cutaneous complication of PPI. Early recognition and cessation of PPI can help prevent this lethal complication.