A review of cutaneous drug eruptions

Fidaxomicin-Associated Hypersensitivity Reactions: Report of a Morbilliform Drug Eruption

PurposeWe report a probable case of morbilliform drug eruption secondary to fidaxomicin in a patient with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Summary: A 62-year-old female presented to our institution's emergency department (ED) with symptoms consistent with Clostridioides difficile infection. The patient was prescribed 2 weeks of oral vancomycin for CDI prior to presentation. Given insufficient response to vancomycin, the patient was started on fidaxomicin with a planned 10-day course. After 2 doses of fidaxomicin, the patient developed a rash on her back that spread within 24 hours. The patient did not experience relief upon administration of a variety of medications for allergic reaction. Improvement was noted upon discontinuation of fidaxomicin. The Food and Drug Administration reports that < 2% of adults treated with fidaxomicin experience a rash as an adverse effect. Conclusion: Fidaxomicin was a probable cause of morbilliform drug eruption in our patient with CDI. The patient improved upon discontinuation of fidaxomicin.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a prognostic predictor in emergency department patients with cutaneous adverse drug reaction

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in emergency department (ED) patients with cutaneous adverse drug reactions to identify the severe patients at an early stage.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, patients aged 18 and over who admitted to the ED of a university hospital with the diagnosis of cutaneous adverse drug reaction were included. For included patients, clinical findings and ED admission complete blood count results were recorded. The primary outcome was hospitalization and the secondary outcome was the type of drug reaction.

RESULTS

A total of 135 patients were included in the study. The median age of patients was 50 (36-64) years. There was no significant difference between the patients hospitalized and discharged from the ED in terms of age and gender (p = 0.340 and p = 0.762, respectively). There was no significant difference between hospitalized and discharged patients in terms of complete blood count parameters (p > 0.05, for all). The median NLR of hospitalized patients was significantly higher than that of patients discharged from the ED (6.13 vs. 3.69, p = 0.006). The median NLR of the patients with erythema multiform/Steven Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrosis was significantly higher than the NLR of the patients with maculopapular and fixed drug eruptions (p = 0.022 and p = 0.015, respectively). The area under the curve value of NLR in predicting hospitalization was 0.640 (0.546-0.734). For 8.4 of NLR cutoff value, specificity was 83.9%.

CONCLUSION

NLR is a useful and simple prognostic parameter as an indicator of systemic inflammatory involvement in ED patients with cutaneous adverse drug reactions. NLR is a useful parameter for deciding which patient will be admitted to the hospital in that patient group.

Fixed Drug Eruptions: An Update, Emphasizing the Potentially Lethal Generalized Bullous Fixed Drug Eruption

A fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a relatively common reaction associated with more than 100 medications. It is defined as a same-site recurrence with exposure to a particular medication. The primary approach and treatment for all types of FDEs are to identify and remove the causative agent, often accomplished by a thorough history of medication and other chemical exposures, and possibly prior episodes. The most common category of FDE, localized FDE, whether bullous or non-bullous, is self-limited. Although one can confirm the causative agent using oral challenge testing, it is not recommended due to the risk of severe exacerbation or possible generalization; patch testing is now preferred. Bullous FDE may resemble erythema multiforme. Treatment of localized FDE includes medication removal, patient counseling, and symptomatic relief. Failure to remove the causative agent in localized FDE can lead to recurrence, which is associated with increased inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and risk of a potentially lethal generalized bullous FDE (GBFDE), which may resemble Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Distinguishing GBFDE from SJS and TEN is salient and will be stressed: GBFDE has more rapid onset in 1-24 h rather than in weeks, less or no mucosal involvement, less or no systemic involvement, and a tendency for a more favorable prognosis; however, recent experience suggests it may be just as life-threatening. This review will provide a comprehensive update and approach to diagnosis and management.

Adverse Drug Reactions

Adverse events and adverse drug reactions are common in clinical practice. Side effects range from the common to the rare and may be confused with other mucocutaneous manifestations resulting from several medications to treat infections, other medical conditions, and in the clinical setting of oncologic treatment. The objective of this chapter to review current data on adverse drug reactions, here classified as (i) severe adverse drug reactions, (ii) uncomplicated cutaneous adverse drug reactions, and (iii) adverse drug reactions caused by chemotherapy drugs, particularly those cases whereby the dermatologist is requested to issue a report and asked to comment on the safety and viability of readministration of a specific drug. We describe aspects associated with these events, presenting a detailed analysis of each of them.

Allergy and Aging: An Old/New Emerging Health Issue

Allergy reactions are the most common immunological diseases and represent one of the most widespread and fast growing chronic human health problems among people over 15 years of age in developed countries. As populations get older worldwide, allergy manifestations in aged persons will occur more often in the future. To date, there has been much more studies on allergies in children than in adults. As the population ages, clinicians must be prepared to meet all the elderly's health care needs, including these new and emerging health issue. Allergic diseases represent an old/new emerging health issue. Because many common illnesses masquerade as atopic disease, the differential diagnosis of suspected allergic diseases becomes more expanded in an aging population. Research in the field needs to focus on both human and animal model systems to investigate the impact of the aging process on the immunologic pathways underpinning allergy and its different facets.

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions in the elderly

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Population ageing is a worldwide phenomenon. The presence of multiple comorbidities, polypharmacy, age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, as well as skin changes in the elderly contribute to a unique diagnostic and management problem. This article reviews the epidemiology of cutaneous adverse drug reactions in the elderly and elaborates on a few specific types of reactions which are more relevant to the elderly.

RECENT FINDINGS

Chronic dermatoses, for example, eczema, have been reported to be associated with the use of long-term medications such as calcium channel blockers and hydrochlorothiazide. Elderly patients receiving treatment for cancers may develop chemotherapy-related cutaneous side effects, including those associated with newer 'targeted' molecular therapies. Elderly patients who develop severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, have worse prognosis in terms of mortality.

SUMMARY

Persons of advanced age often have multiple comorbidities and are on multiple medications. This can result in higher probability of an elderly person developing drug eruptions. It is important for the clinician to be aware of the range of drug-related eruptions and their implications.

Cutaneous Adverse Effects of Neurologic Medications

Life-threatening and benign drug reactions occur frequently in the skin, affecting 8 % of the general population and 2-3 % of all hospitalized patients, emphasizing the need for physicians to effectively recognize and manage patients with drug-induced eruptions. Neurologic medications represent a vast array of drug classes with cutaneous side effects. Approximately 7 % of the United States (US) adult population is affected by adult-onset neurological disorders, reflecting a large number of patients on neurologic drug therapies. This review elucidates the cutaneous reactions associated with medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following neurologic pathologies: Alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, Huntington disease, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, and pseudobulbar affect. A search of the literature was performed using the specific FDA-approved drug or drug classes in combination with the terms 'dermatologic,' 'cutaneous,' 'skin,' or 'rash.' Both PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were utilized, with side effects ranging from those cited in randomized controlled trials to case reports. It behooves neurologists, dermatologists, and primary care physicians to be aware of the recorded cutaneous adverse reactions and their severity for proper management and potential need to withdraw the offending medication.

Anything Rare is Possible: Letrozole Induced Eczematous Skin Eruption

Letrozole is used as first line drug in postmenopausal women with early-stage or advanced hormone-sensitive breast cancer. Letrozole has favourable tolerability profile when administered once daily and significant adverse reactions occur rarely. The objective of this report is to describe a case of eczematous skin eruption that occurred during letrozole treatment. A 61-year-old female patient was admitted with lump in the left breast. FNAC, HPE were done and the patient was diagnosed to have invasive ductal breast carcinoma. After a month of completing CT and EBRT, the patient was given 2.5 mg OD tab. letrozole at night. She developed itchy skin lesions over the right thigh that later generalised, at 6- weeks of treatment. The lesion has been defined as eczematous moderate to severe drug eruption. These lesions were attributed to letrozole therapy and recurred within 24h after rechallenge. Drug eruption is associated with many drugs but this is the first such report with letrozole. We suggest of being aware of such reactions during letrozole usage.