Makulopapulöses Exanthem mit akuter Niereninsuffizienz: Arzneimittelinduziertes Hypersensitivitätssyndrom

A typical presentation of moxifloxacin-induced DRESS syndrome with pulmonary involvement: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a kind of hypersensitivity drug reaction involving the skin and multiple internal organ systems. Moxifloxacin has rarely been reported to be a drug that is associated with DRESS syndrome. Lungs are less frequently involved in DRESS syndrome, but their involvements may herald more serious clinical processes. We present a rare typical case of moxifloxacin-induced DRESS syndrome with lungs involved. Valuable clinical data such as changes in the pulmonary imaging and pulmonary function tests was recorded. This case is important for the differential diagnosis of DRESS syndrome with lungs involved by providing clinical manifestations, CT imaging, pulmonary function tests, and biopsy pathological characteristics. The changes in pulmonary imaging and pulmonary function tests may help us understand the mechanism of DRESS syndrome further.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 47-year-old woman who was treated with oral moxifloxacin for community-acquired pneumonia. The patient subsequently developed a cough, fever, liver injury, skin rash, hematologic abnormalities, and shortness of breath (SOB) followed by pharyngeal herpes and peripheral neuritis. These symptoms, clinical lab index, and CT scan of the lungs improved after the withdrawal of moxifloxacin. The probability of moxifloxacin-induced DRESS syndrome was rated as “Definite”, with 7 scores graded by RegiSCAR. A literature search was also performed with “fluoroquinolones,” “moxifloxacin,” “ciprofloxacin,” “levofloxacin,” “delafloxacin,” and “DRESS” or “drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS)” as the keywords that were put into PubMed. The overall pulmonary involvement was approximately 9.1% (1/11). It is a rare reported case of DRESS syndrome with pulmonary involvement induced by moxifloxacin. We summarized detailed clinical data, including pulmonary imaging and pulmonary function changes.

Conclusion

This is a rare reported case of DRESS syndrome with pulmonary involvement induced by moxifloxacin. Prompt recognition and correct diagnosis can promote appropriate treatment and accelerate recovery. This case is important for us as a reference in the differential diagnosis of DRESS syndrome and helps us further understand the mechanism of DRESS syndrome.

"Treating Through" Decision and Follow-up in Antibiotic Therapy-Associated Exanthemas

BACKGROUND

Immediate discontinuation or replacement of suspected drugs is considered standard medical care in acute exanthematous skin reactions. In the treatment of bacterial infections, structurally different alternative antibiotics, however, are commonly second choice options due to a suboptimal antimicrobial activity or an unfavorable side effect profile. Nonetheless, "treating through," the continuation of antibiotic treatment despite an objective exanthema, is practiced only rarely.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess whether "treating through" is an option for patients with severe bacterial soft tissue infections (severe cellulitis) who experience maculopapular exanthema (MPE) during antibiotic therapy.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from 18 patients who developed MPE within a few days after initiation of intravenous antibiotic treatment. A decision to "treat through" was made when the suspected antibiotics (β-lactams, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin) were clinically effective and the benefits of continued treatment outweighed potential risks. Clinical and laboratory findings were closely monitored in an inpatient setting.

RESULTS

In 2 patients, a modification of antibiotic therapy was deemed necessary due to a significant increase of liver enzymes within 4 days after the initial decision to "treat through." Because of a progression of MPE under ongoing treatment with cefuroxime and clindamycin, clindamycin was discontinued in 1 patient. In another 3 patients, antibiotic treatment was modified because of insufficient improvement of the soft tissue infection. In the remaining 12 "treated through" cases, the skin symptoms improved despite unchanged continued antibiotic treatment, and relevant laboratory parameters remained within the normal range.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful risk-benefit assessment may enable the continuation of antibiotic therapy despite MPE, provided that patients are under close medical observation.

DRESS Syndrome Following Levofloxacin Exposure With Positive Patch-test

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome) in a severe cutaneous drug reaction, which can be life threatening. Levofloxacin has not been reported in literature as a causative drug. We are presenting an exceptional case of levofloxacin-induced DRESS without eosinophilia and with positive patch-tests to levofloxacin.

[Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS): a review]

DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms), also known as hypersensitivity syndrome (HSS), is a severe and potentially life-threatening drug reaction. The worldwide rate of mortality is about 10 %, its incidence is increasing. Drugs that most frequently induce DRESS are aromatic anticonvulsive drugs (carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenobarbital), and more recently new retroviral therapies. The pathogenesis of DRESS is not yet fully understood, but is certainly multifactorial involving a combination of immune reactions, ethnic predisposition, genetically determined enzyme deficiencies and reactivation of herpes viruses (HHV-6, HHV-7, EBV, CMV). Because of the involvement of the skin and internal organs, the clinical picture can be very variable. No specific clinical, histologic or laboratory parameter is available, so the diagnosis has to rely on the clinical appearance. The long latency period between start of drug intake and the initial manifestation of DRESS and the successive onset of skin and organ involvement complicates the early diagnosis. Although or even because DRESS represents a diagnostic challenge, detailed knowledge about this disease is of utmost importance to enable early therapeutic actions.