ARTICLE
A retrospective study of DRESS – drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms
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1
Klinika Dermatologii, Wenerologii i Alergologii Gdańskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego
2
Klinika Psychiatrii Dorosłych Gdańskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego
Submission date: 2017-02-17
Final revision date: 2017-05-01
Acceptance date: 2017-06-01
Online publication date: 2017-12-30
Publication date: 2017-12-30
Corresponding author
Dorota Mehrholz
Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology Medical University of Gdansk, ul. Dębinki 7, 80-211 Gdańsk, Polska
Psychiatr Pol 2017;51(6):1079-1093
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ABSTRACT
Objectives:
DRESS (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic syndrome) is qualified as hypersensitivity after drug reaction. This syndrome may occur due to any medication intake.
There are three main groups of symptoms defining DRESS: skin lesions, hematological abnormalities and internal organ involvement.
Methods:
A retrospective study was performed on a group of 261 patients with drug reactions
hospitalized in the Clinic of Dermatology from 2004 until 2017.
Results:
There were ten cases of DRESS of 261 hypersensitivity drug reactions observed in the Clinic.
The drug which most frequently caused DRESS in the studied group was carbamazepine - six
patients (60%). Lamotrigine was the cause of DRESS in two cases, oxycarbamazepine in one
patient and dexketoprofen in one patient. The skin lesion was present in 100% patients.
Mainly it was coalescing hemorrhagic rash accompanied by face edema. Eosinophilia was
noticed in 80% of patients and the presence of atypical lymphocytes - in 40%. The main
infiltrate organ was liver in 8 cases.
Conclusions:
DRESS diagnosis should be taken into consideration especially in patients treated eith
antiepileptic drugs. Early diagnosis and drug discontinuation can contribute to preventing
serious complications of DRESS.