Sesin G P, Kirschenbaum H
Am J Hosp Pharm. 1979 Nov;36(11):1565-7.
An apparent case of folic acid hypersensitivity and fever in a 36-year-old anephric man is reported. The patient first experienced pruritus when he received 1 mg of folic acid daily; the drug subsequently was discontinued. Three months later, after administration of 1 mg of folic acid daily, the patient became febrile and pruritic. Fever, generalized pain, chills, urticaria and pruritus persisted despite administration of acetaminophen/oxycodone tablets. Leukocytosis was not present. Challenge with a 10-mg/ml folic acid solution intradermally revealed the patient was hypersensitive to folic acid. Previous reports of folic acid-induced hypersensitivity are reviewed. Hypersensitivity to folic acid should be suspected if a patient experiences fever or rash, or both, while receiving folic acid and if neither symptom can be attributed to infection or other pathologic state.
