Erythema Multiforme Associated With Gemfibrozil Monotherapy

Background: A case of erythema multiforme associated with gemfibrozil monotherapy. Methods and Results. A 46-year-old man with hyperlipidemia was treated with 600 mg gemfibrozil twice a day. On the fifth day of treatment, skin lesions consistent with erythema multiforme appeared. With the discontinuation of the treatment and start of a topical steroid treatment, the lesions recovered after 4 weeks. After 6 months, when gemfibrozil therapy was restarted, lesions reappeared on the fourth day of therapy. Lesions recovered again following the previous treatment strategies after 4 weeks. An objective casuality assessment suggests that erythema multiforme was probably related to gemfibrozil monotherapy. Conclusion: Patients starting gemfibrozil therapy should be warned about the occurrence of erythema multiforme in addition to previous reported and established side effects.