Sialadenitis and systemic reaction associated with phenylbutazone.

Sialadenitis is an uncommon side effect of phenylbutazone, and we report seven patients with this reaction who were admitted to Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital over a seven year period. In addition to salivary gland swellings, all patients had evidence of a systemic disturbance that included fever in all cases, and, in varying combinations, pericarditis, pleurisy, rash, conjunctivitis, and disturbed hepatic function. Resolution of these features occurred following cessation of phenylbutazone, but this took several weeks in some cases. Pericarditis was the most severe manifestation, and in one patient, this required corticosteroid therapy.