Nicolau syndrome: A literature review

Nicolau syndrome (NS) is a rare cutaneous adverse reaction after intra-muscular or intra-articular injection. Clinical features of NS are presented by three typical phases (initial, acute and necrotic phases). The cause of NS is acute vasospasm, inflammation of arteries and thromboembolic occlusion of arteriole related various drugs. Many results of laboratory test, imaging studies and histopathology are reported and are associated with disease status. Three phase treatment is recommended for the patients with NS. Initially pain control and rule out differential diagnosis and in acute phase steroid therapy, heparin and pentoxifylline are useful. In necrotic phase, surgical treatment is needed depending on size of the affected site. NS is not well understood so far, however three phase treatment could lead to good result on basis of literature review.

Drug hypersensitivity causing organizing eosinophilic pneumonia in a pediatric patient

OBJECTIVE

To describe a relatively rare hypersentivity reaction with pulmonary manifestations in a pediatric patient.

DATA SOURCES

Electronic medical records.

STUDY SELECTION

Patient treatment in the pediatric critical care unit.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Electronic medical records.

CONCLUSIONS

Eosinophilic pneumonias are rare in the pediatric population. Peripheral eosinophilia is not necessary to make the diagnosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage is the diagnostic study of choice. Lung biopsies are rarely needed to make the diagnosis. The treatment of choice is steroids. If steroids fail to improve the patient's condition, consider IVIG, and cyclosporine A.

[DRESS syndrome associated with carbamazepine]

BACKGROUND

DRESS syndrome (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) is a serious adverse reaction to medication. It is usually defined by the triad of fever, rash and symptomatic or asymptomatic involvement of internal organs. Diagnostic criteria are suspected drug reaction, eosinophilia (≥1.5 x10⁹/l and/or atypical lymphocytes in peripheral blood) and involvement of two or more internal organs (including the skin). The estimated incidence of this syndrome ranges from 1/1000 to 1/10,000 drug exposures and up to 30% mortality.

CASE REPORT

We present a 14-year-old female with a history of complex partial seizures secondary to head trauma. She began treatment with carbamazepine. After 4 weeks she developed fever, generalized rash, adenopathy and multisystem involvement. Following paraclinical studies and evaluation by various specialists, DRESS Syndrome diagnosis was established. The patient was treated with carbamazepine suspension, steroids and gammaglobulin administration with good response and remission of symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate withdrawal of the causative drug and initiation of systemic corticosteroids is the mainstay in disease management.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome is not uncommon and shows better clinical outcome than generally recognised

BACKGROUND

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare disease which can cause severe morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical manifestation and course of DRESS syndrome.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in 45 patients with DRESS syndrome diagnosed between September 2009 and August 2011.

RESULTS

The most common causative drug group was antibiotics (n=13, 28.9%), followed by anticonvulsants (n=12, 26.7%), antituberculosis drugs (n=6, 13.3%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n=4, 8.9%), undetermined agents (n=4, 8.9%), allopurinol (n=3, 6.7%), and others (n=3, 6.7%). The latency period ranged from 2 to 120 days, with a mean of 20.2 ± 24.3 days. The longest latency period was noted for the antituberculosis drug group, at 46.5 ± 29.9 days. Eosinophilia in peripheral blood examination was noted in 35 subjects (77.8%). Atypical lymphocytosis was noted in 16 patients (35.6%), and thrombocytopenia in seven patients (15.6%). Hepatic involvement was noted in 39 (86.7%) study patients, kidney in eight (17.8%), lung in four (8.9%), and central nervous system in one (2.3%). Systemic corticosteroids were administered to 10 patients (22.2%). Forty-three patients (95.6%) showed complete recovery, while two patients had poor outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

DRESS syndrome was not more uncommon than generally recognised. Antibiotics were the most frequently implicated drug group, followed by anticonvulsants. Most patients with this disease showed a better clinical outcome than that which had been generally expected.

Drug allergy in tertiary care in Turkey: results of a national survey. The ADAPT study: adult drug allergy perception in Turkey

BACKGROUND

No data are available on the incidence of drug hypersensitivity (DH) reactions in outpatient settings of tertiary allergy/immunology clinics. Our aims were to document the frequency of outpatient hospital admissions due to DH reactions to allergy/immunology clinics in adults and the management of these reactions in real life. We also investigated whether drug allergy affected social and medical behaviours of the patients.

METHODS

This multi-centre study was performed for one year with the participation of 11 out of 16 tertiary allergy/clinical immunology clinics in Turkey. The study group consisted of the patients with DH reactions. Results of a questionnaire including drug reactions and management were recorded.

RESULTS

Among 54,863 patients, 1000 patients with DH were enrolled with a median of 2.1% of all admissions. In real life conditions, the majority of approaches were performed for finding safe alternatives (65.5%; 1102 out of 1683) with 11.7% positivity. Diagnostic procedures were positive in 27% (154/581) of the patients. The majority of the patients had higher VAS scores for anxiety. A total of 250 subjects (25%) reported that they delayed some medical procedures because of DH.

CONCLUSION

Our results documented the frequency of admissions due to DH reactions to allergy/clinical immunology clinics for the first time. Although physicians mostly preferred to perform drug tests in order to find safe alternatives, considering the fact that DH was confirmed in 27% of the patients, use of diagnostic tests should be encouraged, if no contraindication exists in order to avoid mislabelling patients as DH.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis in polymedicated patient treated with radiotherapy

Temozolomide is an oral alkylating agent indicated for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme concomitantly with radiotherapy and subsequently as monotherapy treatment. We report the case of a patient who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) while she was being treated with chemoradiotherapy and several drugs. Cutaneous tests were performed with the drugs involved with negative result. Although the occurrence of TEN contraindicates suspected drug readministration, we based the decision to perform the controlled administration of temozolomide on the following reasons: (1) the poor prognosis of the underlying disease, (2) the lack of therapeutic alternatives, (3) the suspicion that other drugs taken by the patient simultaneously may be responsible (as anticonvulsants and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole [TMP-SMX]), and (4) temozolomide was the first choice for treating the patient's disease. The administration of a cumulative dose of 60 mg of temozolomide caused a slight skin reaction. Given this result, we conducted controlled administration of other drugs involved. Dexamethasone, codeine, omeprazole and levetiracetam were well tolerated. However, TMP-SMX produced a similar reaction to that caused by temozolomide. In conclusion, we present the first case of TEN induced by temozolomide and TMP-SMX associated with cranial radiotherapy confirmed by controlled administration. Radiotherapy in combination with these drugs could have favored TEN, as some authors have postulated, but we cannot prove this.

[Aspirin hypersensitivity: characteristics and diagnostic approach]

INTRODUCTION

In routine medical practice, the diagnosis of aspirin hypersensitivity (AH) remains difficult. No clinical feature or biomarker is available to reliably confirm this diagnosis and oral provocation tests (OPT) are rarely performed.

AIM

To compare asthmatics with and without AH.

METHOD

The clinical characteristics of 21 asthmatics with and 24 without AH respectively were determined. AH was defined by a positive OPT. A full blood count was done before and 24 hours after the OPT.

RESULTS

The medical history was associated with a weak sensitivity (52%) and a good specificity (96%) for assessing the diagnosis of AH. There was a higher prevalence of AH in women, and a higher frequency of allergic rhinitis in AH, but no characteristic was useful to facilitate the diagnosis of AH in asthmatic patients. Our results demonstrate higher values of platelets in AH patients. Following OPT, in AH patients only, a decrease in blood eosinophils and an increase in neutrophils was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

These results confirm that the diagnosis of AH is challenging, with the history having only weak sensitivity. The observation that fluctuations in eosinophils and neutrophils occur following OPT in AH patients only warrants further investigations and suggests a rapid pro-inflammatory role for aspirin.

Hypersensitivity to antiepileptic drugs

Adverse reactions to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may lead to treatment failure, morbidity, and mortality. Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are potentially fatal. AED DHRs present with a variety of clinical manifestations. The pathogenesis of AED DHRs has not been fully elucidated. Bioactivation, detoxification, covalent adduct formation, presentation to the immune system, and consequent formation of antibody and T-cell immune effectors have been suggested. This article summarizes the epidemiology, pathogenic mechanisms, risk factors, clinical features, and management of allergic reactions to the aromatic AEDs carbamazepine, phenytoin, and lamotrigine.

Management of hypersensitivity reactions to Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in an outpatient oncology infusion center: a 5-year review

BACKGROUND

A high incidence of hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to carboplatin and Taxol is limiting the use of carboplatin and Taxol.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a 5-year study of all patients with HSR to carboplatin or Taxol to better understand the nature of infusion HSR and success or failure of management plans after the initial HSR.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of all safety reports from the Massachusetts General Hospital outpatient chemotherapy infusion center between January 2006 and February 2011. All the patients with HSRs to carboplatin or Taxol were identified and included in the final analysis. We reviewed patient characteristics, clinical symptoms, timing, and treatment of the initial HSR, and determined if the patient was rechallenged despite an initial HSR.

RESULTS

We identified 152 patients with HSR to carboplatin (n = 45) or Taxol (n = 107). Carboplatin HSR was less severe than Taxol HSR. When comparing the 2 groups, the patients with carboplatin HSRs more commonly described itchy palms and feet, generalized itch, and general urticaria and/or erythema, whereas patients with Taxol HSR more commonly described facial flushing, back pain, and chest or throat tightness (all P < .05). Among 40 patients with mild-to-moderate carboplatin HSRs, only 7 were rechallenged, and 100% tolerated rechallenge without desensitization. None of the patients with severe carboplatin HSRs (n = 5) were rechallenged. Most patients (75%) with Taxol HSRs were rechallenged, and 91% tolerated rechallenge without desensitization; the patients with a severe HSR to Taxol were less likely to be rechallenged.

CONCLUSION

The clinical symptoms and timing of carboplatin HSR are distinct from Taxol HSR. Most patients with carboplatin HSR were not rechallenged, whereas most patients with Taxol HSR were successfully rechallenged.

Pregabalin hypersensitivity in a patient treated for postherpetic neuralgia

Drug hypersensitivity syndrome is characterized by fever, skin rash and internal organ involvement. It is commonly seen with aromatic group of anticonvulsants viz. phenytoin, carbamazepine and phenobarbitone. Here, we report a case of hypersensitivity reaction to pregabalin, used for treating postherpetic neuralgia.

Penicillin allergy evaluation: experience from a drug allergy clinic in an Arabian Gulf Country, Kuwait

BACKGROUND

Hypersensitivity to penicillin has been studied worldwide, but data regarding patterns of sensitization in Arabian Gulf countries are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the patterns of penicillin hypersensitivity during a 6-year study in Kuwait in terms of demographics, type of the culprit drug, in vivo and in vitro allergy testing.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty-four patients referred to the drug allergy clinic for penicillin allergy were fully evaluated by skin prick and intradermal testing. Drug provocation test was done on patients with negative results.

RESULTS

A total of 124 patients were evaluated for penicillin allergy. Mean age was 37.8 (standard deviation, 12.7) years, range from 8 to 74 years. Thirty-nine male (31.5%) and 85 female patients (68.5%) were included. Diagnosis of penicillin allergy was confirmed in 46 patients (37.1%). Among the 44 confirmed allergic patients by skin evaluation we had 15 (34.1%) positive skin prick test, and 29 (65.9%) positive intradermal testing. Among patients with positive skin testing, 47.7% were positive to major determinant benzylpenicilloyl poly-L-lysine, 20.4% to minor determinant mixture, 50.0% to penicillin G and 40.9% to ampicillin; 13.6% of patients were positive to amoxicillin by skin prick test. One patient had a positive radioallergosorbent test and one had a positive challenge test.

CONCLUSION

Penicillin allergy is a common problem with an incidence of about one third in our study subjects.

Successful outpatient graded administration of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in patients without HIV and with a history of sulfonamide adverse drug reaction

BACKGROUND

The outcomes of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) desensitization have been widely reported in the HIV literature but less so in the non-HIV literature.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of graded administration of TMP-SMX in patients without HIV and with a history of TMP-SMX adverse drug reaction (ADR).

METHODS

A retrospective chart review, 2004-2012, of all the patients without HIV seen in the Division of Allergic Diseases and with a history of TMP-SMX ADR who underwent outpatient graded administration of TMP-SMX was conducted. The medical record was reviewed for age, sex, details of the initial ADR to TMP-SMX, an indication for TMP-SMX administration, and outcome. Patients also were contacted by telephone, and medical records were reviewed to determine long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients (46 women [64%]; mean [SD] age, 57.7 ± 13.89 years]) were included. The most common patient-reported reactions to TMP-SMX were rash 39 (54%), and hives 9 (13%). TMP-SMX administration was needed for the following indications: prophylaxis (62 [86%]) and treatment of infection (10 [14%]). Forty-three of the patients (60%) underwent a 1-day TMP-SMX administration protocol. Thirty-five of the 43 (81%) underwent a 6-step (90 minutes to 6 hours) protocol and 7 of the 43 (16%) underwent a novel 14-step TMP-SMX protocol. Twenty-nine (40%) underwent a >1-day TMP-SMX administration protocol. Our overall success rate was 90% (mean duration of 11 months). Ninety-eight percent of the patients successfully completed a 1-day graded administration protocol, and 76% successfully completed a >1-day protocol. TMP-SMX was stopped in 8 patients because of the ADR.

CONCLUSION

We report the largest case series of successful outpatient graded administration of TMP-SMX with both 1-day and >1-day protocols, which have shown to be safe and well tolerated in patients without HIV and with a history of sulfonamide ADR.

Hypersensitivity myocarditis confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and endomyocardial biopsy

Myocarditis often occurs due to viral infections and postviral immune-mediated responses. Hypersensitivity myocarditis is a rare form of myocarditis. Numerous drugs can induce myocarditis, which is typically reversible after withdrawal of the causative agent. Here, we report a case of hypersensitivity myocarditis that was probably triggered by amoxicillin and that resolved completely with heart failure management as well as discontinuation of the drug. A 68-year-old woman presented with acute chest pain mimicking acute coronary syndromes, but the coronary angiography was normal. A recent history of taking medications, skin rash, and peripheral eosinophilia suggested a diagnosis of hypersensitivity myocarditis, which was confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and endomyocardial biopsy.

Acute urticaria presenting in the emergency room of a general hospital

BACKGROUND

Acute urticaria is a common disorder that often prompts patients to seek treatment in the emergency room (ER). There are few data on acute urticaria presenting in ER.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to provide demographic and clinical data of patients presenting with acute urticaria at an ER of an Italian general hospital covering an area of about 90,000 inhabitants. The predictive factors of the length of stay in the ER had also been investigated.

METHODS

The database of ER patients was searched for urticaria by ICD-9 code and by keywords in the diagnosis description. All the medical records of the identified patients were reviewed and the length of stay in ER was noted.

RESULTS

A total of 459 patients were admitted to ER with acute urticaria in a 1-year period corresponding to 1.01% of total ER visits and to 1.2 admission per day. Angioedema was present in 139 cases (30.3%), fever in 55 (12%). Twenty-nine patients fulfilled the criteria of anaphylaxis. Triggers could be identified in 193 cases (42%): drugs in 20.7%, insects bites (10.2%), foods (7.4%) and contact urticaria in 3.7%. Anaphylaxis (p<0.001), food (p<0.05) and drugs (p<0.05) as triggers were significant and independent predictive factors of the length of stay in ER.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with acute urticaria are frequently referred to the emergency room, but only in a few cases urticaria is associated with severe allergic manifestations. Drug and food hypersensitivity, together with anaphylaxis, are the best predictors of the length of stay in ER.

Drug hypersensitivity in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient: challenging diagnosis and management

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients present complex immunological alterations. Multiple drugs that usually prescribed for prevention or treatment of opportunistic infections and antiretroviral pose these patients a higher risk of developing drug hypersensitivity. All antiretroviral agents and drugs to treat opportunistic infections have been reported to cause drug hypersensitivity reactions. Allergic reactions with antiretroviral are not restricted to older agents, although newer drugs usually more tolerated. Cutaneous adverse drug reactions are the most common manifestation of drug hypersensitivity in HIV, typically manifesting as maculopapular rash with or without systemic symptoms in the presence or absence of internal organ involvement. The onset of an allergic reaction is usually delayed. Severe drug hypersensitity reactions as erythema multiforme, Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis develop more often in HIV-infected patients compared to other populations. Mild to moderate rash without systemic symptom or organ involvement usually do not need drug discontinuation. Appropriate diagnosis and management of drug hypersensitivity reactions are essential, especially in patients with very low CD4+ T-cell count and multiple opportunistic infections. Clinicians should aware of different half-life of each drug when decided to stop the drug. Knowledge of the metabolism, recognition of the risk factors, and the ability to suggest the probability of particular drug as causative are also important points. A step wise rechallenge test or desensitization with the offending drug might be a preferable action and more commonly used in managing drug hypersensitivity in HIV-infected patients. Desensitization protocols have been successfully done for several antiretroviral and opportunistic infection drugs.

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome induced by chloral hydrate in early childhood

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, also known as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS), is a rare, acute and severe life-threatening systemic disease. DRESS syndrome is characterized by fever, lymphadenopathy, rash, hypereosinophilia and involvement of systemic organs. The most commonly implicated drugs are anticonvulsants, sulfonamides and allopurinol. Chloral hydrate is a sedative and hypnotic drug frequently used in pediatric patients. We first report a case of DRESS syndrome induced by chloral hydrate in a 14-month-old female.

Recent applications of basophil activation tests in the diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity

Immediate-type drug hypersensitivity is an increasingly significant clinical issue; however, the diagnosis is frequently hindered due to lack of safe and precise diagnostic tests. Flow cytometry-assisted basophil activation test is a safe in vitro diagnostic tool for assessing basophil activation upon allergen stimulation. In this review, we have summarized current literature on the diagnostic utilities, new indications, and methodological aspects of the basophil activation test for the diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity.

Recurrent intradialytic heparin induced anaphylaxis: workup and management

Heparin has been widely used for intradialytic anticoagulation since the 1940s. Heparin induced anaphylaxis can be life threatening, mandating early recognition and intervention. However, due to its relative rarity many physicians remain unaware. We report the case of a 70-year-old woman requiring dialysis, who developed recurrent anaphylaxis to intradialytic heparin. We describe a systematic approach to confirm the suspected heparin allergy, which must include an evaluation of predisposing factors, the dialysis equipment and concomitant medications. Further workup for safe alternatives employing skin prick and intradermal tests, as well as provocation tests are discussed.

A case of sulfasalazine-induced hypersensitivity syndrome confirmed by enzyme-linked immunospot assay

A 24-year-old male with a history of spondyloarthropathy presented with high fever, cervical lymphadenopathy and generalized maculopapular rash. He was treated with prednisolone for chronic uveitis before being switched to sulfasalazine 3 weeks prior to admission. Laboratory findings revealed marked leukocytosis with frequent atypical lymphocytes. Sulfasalazine was discontinued and the etiology of mononucleosis syndrome explored. During admission, he developed acalculous cholecystitis and hypotension. All symptoms quickly improved following administration of systemic corticosteroids. The investigation for infectious mononucleosis yielded negative results and a diagnosis of sulfasalazine-induced hypersensitivity syndrome was confirmed using enzyme-linked immunospot assays.

Oral administration of drugs with hypersensitivity potential induces germinal center hyperplasia in secondary lymphoid organ/tissue in Brown Norway rats, and this histological lesion is a promising candidate as a predictive biomarker for drug hypersensitivity occurrence in humans

It is important to evaluate the potential of drug hypersensitivity as well as other adverse effects during the preclinical stage of the drug development process, but validated methods are not available yet. In the present study we examined whether it would be possible to develop a new predictive model of drug hypersensitivity using Brown Norway (BN) rats. As representative drugs with hypersensitivity potential in humans, phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), amoxicillin (AMX), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) were orally administered to BN rats for 28days to investigate their effects on these animals by examinations including observation of clinical signs, hematology, determination of serum IgE levels, histology, and flow cytometric analysis. Skin rashes were not observed in any animals treated with these drugs. Increases in the number of circulating inflammatory cells and serum IgE level did not necessarily occur in the animals treated with these drugs. However, histological examination revealed that germinal center hyperplasia was commonly induced in secondary lymphoid organs/tissues in the animals treated with these drugs. In cytometric analysis, changes in proportions of lymphocyte subsets were noted in the spleen of the animals treated with PHT or CBZ during the early period of administration. The results indicated that the potential of drug hypersensitivity was identified in BN rat by performing histological examination of secondary lymphoid organs/tissues. Data obtained herein suggested that drugs with hypersensitivity potential in humans gained immune reactivity in BN rat, and the germinal center hyperplasia induced by administration of these drugs may serve as a predictive biomarker for drug hypersensitivity occurrence.

Clinical features of immediate hypersensitivity to isopropylantipyrine

Hypersensitivities induced by isopropylantipyrine (IPA), a pyrazolone derivative within the wider family of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are rarely reported. We characterized the clinical features of 12 patients with IPA-induced hypersensitivity. Twelve patients with immediate hypersensitivity to IPA were enrolled and classified into two groups: group I, consisting of eight patients (66.7%) with selective hypersensitivity; and group II, consisting of four patients (33.3%) showing cross-intolerance to other NSAIDs. Skin prick and intradermal and oral provocation tests with IPA were performed. To confirm selective hypersensitivity, an aspirin oral provocation test was also conducted. The most common manifestations were cutaneous reactions (91.7%), followed by anaphylaxis (66.7%), respiratory (41.7%), ocular (16.7%), and gastrointestinal reactions (16.7%). The median age and the median age at onset were 34.5 (range, 23-55) years and 28.0 (range, 7-47) years, respectively. In both groups I and II, all patients showed negative responses to skin prick testing, whereas only two patients in group I were positive in response to intradermal IPA tests. The response time after drug exposure was shorter in group I than in group II. Here, we report on two types of IPA hypersensitivity: selective and cross-intolerant NSAID hypersensitivity. An immediate IgE-mediated reaction may be involved in patients with selective hypersensitivity, whereas a cyclooxygenase-1-related inhibition mechanism may be a responsible mechanism for the patients with cross-intolerance to multiple NSAIDs.

Recent progress of elucidating the mechanisms of drug hypersensitivity

Recent technical approaches to investigating drug hypersensitivity have provided a great deal of information to solve the mechanisms that remain poorly understood. First, immunological investigations and in silico analysis have revealed that a novel interaction between T cells and antigen-presenting cells, namely the pharmacological interaction concept, is involved in drug recognition and the hapten theory. Second, progress in immunology has provided a new concept of CD4+ T cell subsets. Th17 cells have proven to be a critical player in acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. Our recent findings suggest that this subset might contribute to the pathogenesis of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis. Third, alarmins, molecules associated with innate immunity, are also associated with exaggeration and the persistence of severe drug hypersensitivity. The latest innovative techniques are providing a new landscape to examine drug hypersensitivity.

Carboplatin-induced hypersensitivity reaction

We describe a 65-year-old female with relapsed ovarian cancer who developed a severe hypersensitivity reaction during the second cycle of carboplatin treatment. The patient developed respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome and hypotension, requiring admission to the intensive care unit.

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome following cholestatic hepatitis A: a case report

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections occur predominantly in children, and are usually self-limiting. However, 75-95% of the infections in adults are symptomatic (mostly with jaundice), with the illness symptoms usually persisting for a few weeks. Atypical manifestations include relapsing hepatitis, prolonged cholestasis, and complications involving renal injury. Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a severe, drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction characterized by skin rash, fever, lymph-node enlargement, and internal organ involvement. We describe a 22-year-old male who presented with acute kidney injury and was diagnosed with prolonged cholestatic hepatitis A. The patient also developed DRESS syndrome due to antibiotic and/or antiviral treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of histopathologically confirmed DRESS syndrome due to antibiotic and/or antiviral treatment following HAV infection with cholestatic features and renal injury.

Review of the use of cephalosporins in children with anaphylactic reactions from penicillins

OBJECTIVE

It is a widely accepted practice that children with anaphylaxis from penicillins should avoid cephalosporins. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there is evidence in the literature to support this practice.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Toxline, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts and PubMed were used to search the literature published from 1966 to 2001. The Canadian Medical Protective Association, Health Canada and the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program were also contacted to determine whether there were any unpublished cases of cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins.

DATA EXTRACTION

Cases describing the use of cephalosporins in adults and children with positive penicillin skin tests or anaphylaxis from penicillin were evaluated. Case reports of anaphylaxis from cephalosporins in paediatric patients were identified.

DATA SYNTHESIS

There have been five reported cases of serious reactions from cephalosporins in patients with a history of anaphylaxis from penicillins. All cases occurred in adults; three developed anaphylaxis from the older, first-generation cephalosporins, cephalothin and cephaloridine; one developed anaphylaxis from cefamandole; and one developed anaphylaxis from cefaclor. There have been 12 other published reports of anaphylaxis from cephalosporins in adults with a history of penicillin allergy or a positive penicillin skin test, but with no history of anaphylaxis from penicillin. In seven studies, in which a total of 158 patients with positive penicillin skin tests were administered cephalosporins, seven had apparent immunoglobulin E-mediated reactions when they were given a cephalosporin. When the class of cephalosporin was able to be determined, none of the reports of reactions from cephalosporins in patients with allergies to penicillin involved third-generation cephalosporins. There have been 13 case reports of anaphylaxis from cephalosporins in paediatric patients.

CONCLUSION

There are no published case reports of anaphylaxis from cephalosporins in children with anaphylaxis from penicillin, and there are only a small number of such reports in adults. Anaphylaxis from cephalosporins appears to be incredibly rare in children. There is minimal evidence in the literature to support the avoidance of cephalosporins in children with anaphylaxis from penicillins.