Acute urticaria as a side effect of the Mirena® (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system): a case report

BMC Res Notes. 2014 Apr 3:7:209. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-209.

Abstract

Background: The levonorgestrel intrauterine system, Mirena®, is widely used for contraception and the treatment of idiopathic menorrhagia. Here, we reported one case of acute urticaria following Mirena® implantation to increase the awareness of possible adverse side effects associated with Mirena®.

Case presentation: The case presented is a 27-year-old Chinese woman who received Mirena® implantation for her adenomyosis and menorrhagia. The operation was successful and the patient did not experience any discomfort during the operation. However, she developed acute urticaria on her entire body accompanied with pruritic, slight left lower quadrant pain, and slight dizziness two hours after the operation. The patient was recommended to have the Mirena® removed immediately, and she took 10 mg oral methylprednisolone and 5 mg desloratadine tablet daily for five days. Her urticaria resolved and did not recur.

Conclusion: The patient's acute urticaria seems to have been associated with the Mirena® levonorgestrel intrauterine system implantation, since she had no history of allergic reactions to materials used during the operation such as plastic, metal, alcohol, medications, and povidone-iodine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adenomyosis / drug therapy
  • Adult
  • Contraceptive Agents, Female / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Levonorgestrel / adverse effects*
  • Menorrhagia / drug therapy
  • Urticaria / chemically induced*
  • Urticaria / physiopathology

Substances

  • Contraceptive Agents, Female
  • Levonorgestrel