Abstract
Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a delayed, potentially life-threatening, hypersensitivity reaction characterized by a widespread, long-lasting skin eruption, fever, lymphadenopathy, hematological abnormalities, and organ involvement. Time to onset and course are relatively long; relapses may occur. Clinical and biological variability make DRESS a challenging diagnosis. Pathogenesis is not exactly known, but probably reflects a complex interplay of drug and viral-related factors in which genetics and abnormal metabolic pathways of drugs play an important role. Although associated with many drugs, DRESS is mainly observed after a limited number of “high risk” drugs. Early recognition, prompt withdrawal of the culprit, and treatment with corticosteroids are the mainstay of management.
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Abbreviations
- AED:
-
Antiepileptic drugs
- cADR:
-
Cutaneous adverse drug reactions
- CBZ:
-
Carbamazepine
- D(I)HS:
-
Drug (induced) hypersensitivity syndrome
- DRESS:
-
Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms
- HHV-6:
-
Herpes virus type 6
- LTA:
-
Lymphocyte toxicity assay
- LTT:
-
Lymphocyte transformation test
- MPE:
-
Maculopapular exanthema
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Kardaun, S.H. (2019). Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS). In: Shear, N., Dodiuk-Gad, R. (eds) Advances in Diagnosis and Management of Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions. Adis, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1489-6_7
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