Phenytoin-associated DRESS syndrome: A Case Report Fenitoine Bağlı DRESS Sendromu: Olgu Sunumu

Abstract

DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) syndrome is a rare, life-threatening, delayed type drug reaction characterized by fever, skin rash, hematologic changes (eosinophilia, atypical lymphocytes), lymphadenopathy and involvement of the internal organs (liver, kidney, heart). It was first described associated with phenytoin but aromatic anticonvulsants and sulfonamides are the most common ones. The diagnosis of DRESS syndrome is made according to the clinician's decision with the scoring systems (Bocquet, J-SCAR, RegiSCAR) consisting of certain clinical and laboratory findings. The main criterias for these scores are fever, skin rash, eosinophilia and internal organ involvement. Case: A 7-year-old male patient with ongoing investigations in our pediatric neurology outpatient clinic due to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, mental-motor retardation and syndromic appearance was admitted with 39°C fever and rash on his body for 2 days. Our patient diagnosed with epilepsy had received antiepileptic treatment since he was one year old and it was learned that phenytoin was added to his current treatment because he had generalized tonic-clonic seizures 11 days before the admission. In the history of our case, there was a second‐degree consanguinity between the mother and father. In physical examination; body weight was 16.5kg (<3p), height was 100 cm (<3p), head circumference was 48 cm (<3p). He had a syndromic facial appearance (retro-micrognathia, flat nasal bridge), leukocoria, small hands and foots, and a simian line in the right hand. There were diffuse millimetric maculopapular rashes on the body and a left cervical lymph node (1 x 1 cm). In laboratory examinations; hemoglobin was 13.1 gr/dL, leukocyte was 9710/mm³, platelet was 266000/mm³, total eosinophil count was 880/mm³, AST was 82 IU/L, and ALT was 45 IU/L. Phenytoin of our case, who was considered to have phenytoin-induced DRESS syndrome according to the RegiSCAR diagnostic criteria, was discontinued and the rash, eosinophilia and transaminase values were decreased within 3 days after starting antihistaminic and steroid treatment. Conclusion: DRESS syndrome is a rare but life-threatening progressive condition and early diagnosis and timely treatment are life-saving. We present our case to emphasize the importance of questioning the history of drug use in patients presenting with fever and rash, and the necessity of keeping in mind the diagnosis, triggers and treatment of DRESS syndrome.

Keywords

• Phenytoin,DRESS syndrome

References

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