Carbamazepine-induced DRESS syndrome: a case report

Authors

Andrada Luciana Lazar, DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, ‘IULIU HAŢIEGANU’ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY CLUJ-NAPOCA
Olga Hilda Orășan, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, ‘IULIU HAŢIEGANU’ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA
Corina Baican, DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, ‘IULIU HAŢIEGANU’ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY CLUJ-NAPOCA
Nicolae Voicu Rednic, DEPARTMENT OF GASTROENTEROLOGY, ‘IULIU HAŢIEGANU’ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY, CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA
Adela Sitar-Tăut, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, ‘IULIU HAŢIEGANU’ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA
Bogdan Man, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, EMERGENCY HOSPITAL BISTRITA, ROMANIA
Vasile Negrean, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, ‘IULIU HAŢIEGANU’ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA
Nicolae Rednic, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, ‘IULIU HAŢIEGANU’ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA
Angela Cozma, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, ‘IULIU HAŢIEGANU’ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA

Abstract

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a potentially life-threatening, idiosyncratic, acute adverse drug reaction. Fever, morbilliform cutaneous eruption, and eosinophilia are essential features for the diagnosis of this syndrome, along with significant multisystem involvement, hepatitis being the most common, followed by nephritis. The pathogenesis of DRESS syndrome is not yet fully understood. Several hypotheses have been proposed which support the involvement of an intricate interplay of multiple factors. We report a clinical case of DRESS syndrome with renal injury, induced by carbamazepine, in a patient with alcohol abstinence syndrome. In order to define the case, the RegiSCAR score and the Japanese Group score, used in the diagnosis of drug-induced hypersensitivity, were applied. DRESS syndrome is a potentially fatal disease, with a mortality that can reach up to 40% of cases. This condition endangers the patient's life by affecting the internal organs, mainly the liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs. Our case attempts to increase awareness among physicians about this serious disease and the importance of early diagnosis, especially since carbamazepine is a commonly used anticonvulsant drug.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Lazar, Andrada Luciana; Orășan, Olga Hilda; Baican, Corina; Rednic, Nicolae Voicu; Sitar-Tăut, Adela; Man, Bogdan; Negrean, Vasile; Rednic, Nicolae; and Cozma, Angela (2020) "Carbamazepine-induced DRESS syndrome: a case report," Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences: Vol. 7: Iss. 2, Article 18.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/7674.72.P239244
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/jmms/vol7/iss2/18