Clinical, aetiological and therapeutic findings in Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, four years experience in a third-level Mexican hospital

Abstract

Background

Skin reactions are the most frequent adverse drug event, and manifest clinically in many ways, ranging from mild, self-limiting reactions, to severe and potentially fatal forms. DRESS syndrome is one of the most severe forms of drug-induced skin reaction, and can be life threatening. However, currently we have no internationally accepted guidelines for the correct characterisation and treatment of some drug-induced skin reactions, DRESS syndrome and other severe drug-induced skin reactions, in particular.

Methods

A retrolective and descriptive study. The sample was selected from the records of patients registered in the Dermatology Department. Twenty-seven cases were selected, and the suspected causative drug, clinical presentation, complications, treatment response and mortality were evaluated.

Results

The patients were aged between 17 and 99. DRESS syndrome was the second most common drug-induced skin reaction. Antibiotics were the most commonly associated group of drugs, followed by anticonvulsants. The drug exposure time and the onset of dermatosis were variable. All the patients responded well to treatment with a mortality of 0%.

Conclusions

For correct diagnosis and intervention it is essential to identify the different clinical patterns of drug-induced skin reactions; DRESS syndrome in particular, is a drug-induced skin reaction that can endanger a patient's life, and therefore it is important that it is correctly identified and managed.