Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) induced by cidofovir in a transplant recipient: a misunderstanding of DRESS

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, or virus reactivation with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms as a manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in a patient with HIV?

We report a case of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) in a patient with HIV receiving antitoxoplasmic drugs (adiazine and pyrimethamine) and levetiracetam along with highly active antiretroviral therapy (tenofovir-emtricitabine, darunavir and ritonavir). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was reactivated in the 7 weeks before the development of DRESS but was successfully treated with ganciclovir and corticosteroids. DRESS flare was concomitant with another CMV reactivation after the withdrawal of ganciclovir. This case report is an example of DRESS that may be considered real DRESS or virus reactivation with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (VRESS) as a manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. The case confirms that herpesvirus reactivation precedes DRESS or VRESS, and suggests the need to monitor herpesvirus infection in patients at risk for the infection or after the initiation of culprit drugs.