DRESS syndrome (drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms): sometimes, not all signs are there

Abstract

DRESS syndrome is a rare and potentially fatal multisystemic reaction that occurs two to six weeks after exposure to certain drugs. It is characterized by fever, eosinophilia, and skin rash. Case of a 37-year-old man, black, with gout (started allopurinol 4 weeks before). He arrived at the Emergency Room complaining of headache, fever, abdominal pain, and scattered maculopapular skin lesions. The conducted study showed elevated transaminases and C-reactive protein, hepatomegaly, and peri-hepatic adenomegalies. Allopurinol was stopped, but throughout hospitalization, liver, renal and neurological dysfunctions (with meningoencephalitis) worsened; it also appeared eosinophilia. A skin biopsy was performed, the possibility of DRESS syndrome was assumed, and methylprednisolone 2 mg/kg/day was started, with progressive improvement. The skin biopsy was compatible with DRESS. The described case reveals some peculiarities. Among the most relevant arethe late onset of eosinophilia and the difficulty in evaluating the rash due to the patient's skin tone and neurological manifestations (rare).