Drug Hypersensitivity Reaction:Drug Hypersensitivity Reaction:DRESS Syndrome (Drug Reaction DRESS Syndrome (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic with Eosinophilia and Systemic

Symptoms)Symptoms)Christopher CaulfieldChristopher Caulfield

AM ReportAM Report

December 1, 2009December 1, 2009

Adverse Drug ReactionsAdverse Drug Reactions

Type A reactions are pharmacological effects that are predictable and dose-dependent and consist of side effects and drug interactions.

Type B reactions are hypersensitivity reactions that are unpredictable and not dose-dependent, usually occurring at normally tolerated doses. Comprise about 10%–15% of all ADRs.

EpidemiologyEpidemiology

ADRs occur in roughly 10-20% of hospitalizations, and approximately 5% of hospitalizations are due to ADRs

Adverse cutaneous reactions to drugs affect about 2 to 3 percent of hospitalized patients.

Estimated that 1 in 1000 hospitalized patients has a serious cutaneous drug reaction.

EpidemiologyEpidemiology

Sulfonamides are the most frequent causes of drug hypersensitivity syndrome.

Aromatic antiepileptic agents (phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital) have an estimated incidence of 1 reaction per 5000 patients, possibly a higher rate among black patients.

Medications Involved in DHSMedications Involved in DHS

Abacavir Dapsone Nevirapine Allopurinol Diltiazem Oxicam NSAIDs Atenolol Gold salts Phenobarbitone Azathioprine

Isoniazid Phenytoin Captopril Lamotrogine Sulfasalazine Carbamazepine Mexiletine Sulfonamides Clomipramine Minocycline Trimethoprim

PathophysiologyPathophysiology

Underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, but it is proposed that defective detoxification of drug-reactive metabolites results in modification of cellular proteins, targeting an autoimmune response.

Reactive metabolites may also mediate an immune response and induce reactivation or propagation of HHV-6, which results in the systemic effects.

SymptomsSymptoms

Rash in DHS occurs 2 to 6 weeks after drug administration, later than most other serious skin reactions.

Initially presents with a morbilliform eruption that may be indistinguishable from less serious reactions and can eventually develop into erythematous follicular papules, pustules, bullae, or purpura.

SymptomsSymptoms

Fever and rash are most frequent presenting symptoms (in 87 percent of cases)

Lymphadenopathy (in about 75 percent) is frequent and usually due to benign lymphoid hyperplasia

Some of these cases resolve with withdrawal of the drug, but lymphoma can develop in cases.

Hepatitis (51 percent)

Interstitial Nephritis (11 percent)

Hematologic abnormalities, especially eosinophilia (30 percent) as well as atypical lymphocytosis

DiagnosisDiagnosis

Based on clinical presentation with the triad of fever, rash, and organ involvement, supported with findings of eosinophilia and abnormal liver function tests.

Hypersensitivity syndrome may be difficult to distinguish clinically from serum sickness or vasculitis

Important to obtain medication history and eventually a skin biopsy may be warranted

TreatmentTreatment

Treatment consists of immediate withdrawal of all suspected medicines, followed by supportive care of symptoms.

Systemic corticosteroids are generally used in more severe DHS cases involving significant dermatitis, pneumonitis and/or hepatitis.

Relapses may occur as corticosteroid doses are tapered, and treatment may need to be continued for several weeks.

Future PreventionFuture Prevention

Cross-hypersensitivity reactions are common and can occur between the three main aromatic anticonvulsants (i.e. phenytoin, carbamazepine and phenobarbitone) as well as NSAIDs

As genetics are suspected in DHS, first-degree relatives may be at increased risk of developing hypersensitivity reactions to similar medicines.

Return to Our CaseReturn to Our Case

Biopsy not diagnostic as it showed a mixed picture with some possible vasculitis

Clinical presentation and initial laboratory data helpful in diagnosis

As an aside, some studies have shown an association between the use of Singulair and the development of Churg-Strauss syndrome, but never in hypersensitivity syndrome/DRESS

Review of Skin Reactions Review of Skin Reactions

Morbilliform Drug Eruption

Drug eruptions are most often morbilliform or exanthematous, and usually fade in a few days.

This is often the initial presentation of more serious reactions including toxic epidermal necrolysis, hypersensitivity syndrome, and serum sickness

Morbilliform Drug Eruption

Erythema Multiforme MajorErythema Multiforme Major

Typical target lesions that predominate on the extremities, and usually occurs after infections, especially herpes simplex and mycoplasma, and has a benign course

Erythema Multiforme MajorErythema Multiforme Major

Stevens-Johnson SyndromeStevens-Johnson Syndrome

Widely distributed purpuric macules and blisters and prominent involvement of the trunk and face are likely to have Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which is usually drug-induced

Generalized eruption of lesions that initially had a target-like appearance but then became confluent, brightly erythematous, and bullous.

Stevens-Johnson SyndromeStevens-Johnson Syndrome

SJS vs. TENSJS vs. TEN

Limited areas of epidermal detachment are usually labeled Stevens-Johnson syndrome and those with extensive detachment toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is characterized by sloughing of less than 10 percent of the epidermis

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is characterized by sloughing of more than 30 percent of he epidermis

About 90 percent of patients with each disorder have mucosal lesions, including painful erosions and crusts on any surface

Hypersensitivity VasculitisHypersensitivity Vasculitis

Cutaneous vasculitis is palpable purpuric papules, classically located on the lower extremities, although any site may be involved

The results of direct immunofluorescence are often positive, with deposits of IgM and C3 complement on capillary walls

Hypersensitivity VasculitisHypersensitivity Vasculitis

Warfarin-induced Skin Warfarin-induced Skin NecrosisNecrosis

A rare and devastating effect of warfarin therapy is skin necrosis, a consequence of occlusive thrombi in vessels of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, and typically begins three to five days after therapy is initiated.

Red, painful plaques evolve to necrosis with hemorrhagic blisters or necrotic scars, frequently in areas with large quantities of adipose tissue, including the breasts, hips, and buttocks.

Warfarin-induced Skin Warfarin-induced Skin NecrosisNecrosis

Take Home Points in Take Home Points in DHS/DRESSDHS/DRESS

Rash occurs 2 to 6 weeks after drug administration, which is later than most other serious skin reactions.

Initially presents with a non-specific morbilliform eruption

Take Home Points in Take Home Points in DHS/DRESSDHS/DRESS

Diagnosis based on clinical presentation with triad of fever, rash, and organ involvement, supported with findings of eosinophilia and abnormal liver function tests.

Treatment consists of stopping suspected medicines, providing supportive care, and administration of systemic corticosteroids in more severe cases.

ReferencesReferences

Sullivan J.R., Shear N.H. The drug hypersensitivity syndrome: What is the pathogenesis? Archives of Dermatology, 2001, 137:357-364.

Descamps V., Valance A., Edlinger C., et al. Association of human herpesvirus 6 infection with drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. Archives of Dermatology, 2001, 137:301-304.

Eshki M., Allanore L., Musette P., Milpied B., Grange A., Guillaume J., Chosidow O., Guillot I. Paradis V., Joly P., Crickx B., Ranger-Rogez S., Descamps V. Twelve-Year Analysis of Severe Cases of Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms: A Cause of Unpredictable Multiorgan Failure. Archives of Dermatology, 2009; 145: 67-72.

Roujeau J.C., Stern R.S. Severe adverse cutaneous reactions to drugs. New England Journal of Medicine, 1994, 331: 1272-1285.

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