Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2010 Apr;2(2):123-126. 10.4168/aair.2010.2.2.123.

Comparison of the Causes and Clinical Features of Drug Rash With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

• Jeung YJ
• Lee JY
• Oh MJ
• Choi DC
• Lee BJ

• KMID: 2260598
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2010.2.2.123

Abstract

PURPOSE
Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and the Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are both severe drug reactions. Their pathogenesis and clinical features differ. This study compared the causes and clinical features of SJS and DRESS.
METHODS
We enrolled 31 patients who were diagnosed with DRESS (number=11) and SJS (number=20). We retrospectively compared the clinical and laboratory data of patients with the two disorders.
RESULTS
In both syndromes, the most common prodromal symptoms were itching, fever, and malaise. The liver was commonly involved in DRESS. The mucosal membrane of the oral cavity and eyes was often affected in SJS. The most common causative agents in both diseases were antibiotics (DRESS 4/11 (37%), SJS 8/20 (40%)), followed by anticonvulsants (DRESS 3/11 (27%), SJS 7/20 (35%)). In addition, dapsone, allopurinol, clopidogrel, sulfasalazine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were sporadic causes.
CONCLUSIONS
The most common causes of DRESS and SJS were antibiotics, followed by anticonvulsants, NSAIDs and sulfonamides. The increase in the use of antibiotics in Korea might explain this finding.

Keyword

Drug hypersensitivity; DRESS syndrome; Stevens-Johnson syndrome

MeSH Terms

Allopurinol
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Anticonvulsants
Dapsone
Drug Hypersensitivity
Eosinophilia
Exanthema
Eye
Fever
Humans
Korea
Liver
Membranes
Mouth
Prodromal Symptoms
Pruritus
Retrospective Studies
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Sulfasalazine
Sulfonamides
Ticlopidine
Allopurinol
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Anticonvulsants
Dapsone
Sulfasalazine
Sulfonamides
Ticlopidine

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