DRESS syndrome

DNB 2013

DRESS syndrome is associated with all except
a.Drug reaction
b.myocarditis
c.Eosinophilia
d.Encephalitis
Ans: d

DRESS syndrome- Short synposis

•Initially, 'anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome' was first used to label this specific entity.

•Drug hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS) also referred to as DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) term is now used.

•It is an adverse drug reaction commonly associated with the aromatic antiepileptic drugs viz., phenytoin , carbamazepine , phenobarbital , lamotrigine, primidone etc. It may also be seen with Allopurinol, Dapsone, Minocycline, Nevirapine

•It is usually defined by the triad of fever, skin rash and symptomatic or asymptomatic internal organ involvement, within the first 2-8 weeks after initiation of therapy.

•Skin manifestation are in the form of exanthem, erythroderma or blisters. Internal manifestations include, among others, agranulocytosis, hepatitis, nephritis and myocarditis.

•Management mainly includes immediate withdrawal of the culprit drug, symptomatic treatment and systemic steroids or immunoglobulins.

Features for DRESS are as below: