[Allopurinol-induced hypersensitivity syndrome resulting in death]

Genetic Testing in Clinical Settings

Genetic testing is used for screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of diseases consistent with a genetic cause and to guide drug therapy to improve drug efficacy and avoid adverse effects (pharmacogenomics). This In Practice review aims to inform about DNA-related genetic test availability, interpretation, and recommended clinical actions based on results using evidence from clinical guidelines, when available. We discuss challenges that limit the widespread use of genetic information in the clinical care setting, including a small number of actionable genetic variants with strong evidence of clinical validity and utility, and the need for improving the health literacy of health care providers and the public, including for direct-to-consumer tests. Ethical, legal, and social issues and incidental findings also need to be addressed. Because our understanding of genetic factors associated with disease and drug response is rapidly increasing and new genetic tests are being developed that could be adopted by clinicians in the short term, we also provide extensive resources for information and education on genetic testing.

The prescription of allopurinol in a tertiary care centre: appropriate indications and dose adjustment

Objective

To determine the appropriateness (both indications and adequate dosage regimen via creatinine clearance estimation) of allopurinol by physicians of different specialties in a tertiary care centre.

Patients and methods

In this cross sectional study computerized clinical records of 156 adult patients who were prescribed allopurinol from 12th November to 11th December, 2011 were retrieved from Al Hada Hospital Taif Saudi Arabia. Main outcome variables were approprsiate indications of allopurinol, prescribing physician’s specialty, and dosage of allopurinol. The prescribed dosages were categorized into correct and incorrect dose adjustments based on creatinine clearance estimation. The SPSS version 16 was utilized for data analyses.

Results

The mean (±SD) age was 58.15 (±14.99) years. There were 105 (67.3%) males and 51 (32.7%) females with male to female ratio being 2:1. Allopurinol was frequently prescribed by nephrologists and family physicians in this study. Out of 156 patients, 46 (29.5%) patients received allopurinol with appropriate indications. Eighty-five (54.5%) patients were received allopurinol without dose adjustment based on their creatinine clearance estimation; among them, 21 (13.5%) received allopurinol with appropriate indications.

Conclusion

The inappropriate use of allopurinol (both the indication and prescribed dosage) is still a major problem in a large tertiary care centre. Furthermore, the specialty of physicians is also a contributory factor in this inappropriateness.

Acute compartment syndrome of the forearm as a rare complication of toxic epidermal necrolysis: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Toxic epidermal necrolysis lies within the spectrum of severe cutaneous adverse reactions induced by drugs, affecting skin and mucous membranes. Toxic epidermal necrolysis is considered a medical emergency as it is considered to be potentially fatal and carries a high mortality rate. To the best of our knowledge the association of toxic epidermal necrolysis and compartment syndrome has been rarely mentioned in the literature. In this case we treated the compartment syndrome promptly despite the poor general condition and skin status of our patient. Despite the poor skin condition, wound healing was uneventful with no complications.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 62-year-old Caucasian man with a generalized macular-vesicular rash involving 90% of his body surface area and mucous membranes, as well as impaired renal and hepatic functions following ingestion of allopurinol for treatment of gout, was admitted to our hospital. Skin biopsies were taken and he was started on a steroid infusion. Within hours of admission, he developed acute compartment syndrome of the dominant forearm and hand.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite its rare incidence, toxic epidermal necrolysis is a condition with a high incidence of complications and mortality. Patients with severe conditions affecting a large degree of the skin surface area should be treated as promptly and effectively as patients with burns, with close monitoring and the anticipation that rare musculoskeletal complications might arise. The association of compartment syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis might lead to a rapid deterioration and fatal systemic involvement and multiple organ failures.