Successful mepolizumab treatment for DRESS-induced refractory eosinophilic myocarditis and concurrent thyroiditis

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. Part II diagnosis and management

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome, also known as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, is a severe cutaneous adverse reaction characterized by an exanthem, fever, and hematologic and visceral organ involvement. The differential diagnosis includes other cutaneous adverse reactions, infections, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and neoplastic disorders. Three sets of diagnostic criteria have been proposed; however, consensus is lacking. The cornerstone of management is immediate discontinuation of the suspected drug culprit. Systemic corticosteroids remain first-line therapy, but the literature on steroid-sparing agents is expanding. Longitudinal evaluation for sequelae is recommended. Adjunctive tests for risk stratification and drug culprit identification remain under investigation. Part II of this continuing medical education activity begins by exploring the differential diagnosis and diagnosis of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms and concludes with an evidence-based overview of evaluation and treatment.

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome related to piperacillin-tazobactam: a case report and review of the literature

Allergic reactions to drugs caused by piperacillin-tazobactam are common in clinical practice. However, we also found a few cases of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DiHS)/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) caused by piperacillin-tazobactam in our clinical work. We report a case of a 60-year-old female patient who was treated with piperacillin-tazobactam anti-infective therapy after the diagnosis of hematogenous lung abscess, developed fever, rash, and blood abnormalities after 26 days of application, and was later diagnosed as DIHS, which was improved after the administration of glucocorticoid and anti-allergic drugs. In addition, we also retrospectively analyzed 17 cases of DiHS caused by piperacillin-tazobactam from the PubMed databases between March 1980 and September 2023. The majority of the patients had an incubation period of more than 14 days, and the common clinical features included elevated eosinophil count/percentage, fever, rash, liver damage, and lymph node enlargement. After treatment with topical or systemic glucocorticoids, 16 of the 17 patients improved and one died because of the underlying condition. The clinical features of DiHS were diverse and included a long incubation period, skin rash, elevated eosinophils, and impaired organ function. Since some patients have atypical clinical features, clinicians should raise awareness of the disease, recognize these features early, and treat them promptly.

DRESS syndrome with multiorgan involvement and HHV-6 reactivation in the absence of a drug trigger

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe drug reaction where patients present with fever, morbilliform rash and multiorgan manifestations, which may include acute renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome and eosinophilic myocarditis. We present a case of a 60-year-old woman with acute heart failure, DRESS syndrome features and human herpesvirus 6 reactivation in the absence of a drug trigger. She was diagnosed with eosinophilic myocarditis and successfully treated with corticosteroid therapy.

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (ADRs) represent a heterogeneous field including various clinical patterns without specific features suggesting drug causality. Maculopapular exanthema and urticaria are the most common types of cutaneous ADR. Serious cutaneous ADRs, which may cause permanent sequelae or have fatal outcome, may represent 2% of all cutaneous ADR and must be quickly identified to guide their management. These serious reactions include bullous manifestations (epidermal necrolysis i.e. Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). Some risk factors for developing cutaneous ADRs have been identified, including immunosuppression, autoimmunity or genetic variants. All drugs can cause cutaneous ADRs, the most commonly implicated being antibiotics (especially aminopenicillins and sulfonamides), anticonvulsants, allopurinol, antineoplastic drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and iodinated contrast media. Pathophysiology is related to immediate or delayed "idiosyncratic" immunologic mechanisms, i.e., usually not related to dose, and pharmacologic/toxic mechanisms, commonly dose-dependent and/or time-dependent. If an immuno-allergic mechanism is suspected, allergological explorations (including epicutaneous patch testing and/or intradermal test) are often possible to clarify drug causality, however these have a variable sensitivity according to the drug and to the ADR type. No in vivo or in vitro test can consistently confirm the drug causality. To determine the origin of a rash, a logical approach based on clinical characteristics, chronologic factors and elimination of differential diagnosis (especially infectious etiologies) is required, completed with a literature search. Reporting to pharmacovigilance system is therefore essential both to analyze drug causality at individual level, and to contribute to knowledge of the drug at population level, especially for serious cutaneous ADRs or in cases involving newly marketed drugs.

DRESS Syndrome: Renal Involvement in Two Cases - A Comprehensive Analysis and Literature Review of Improved Diagnosis and Treatment

BACKGROUND Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare hypersensitivity reaction involving the skin and various visceral organs; the kidneys are the second most affected organ. Many drugs are reported to be associated with DRESS, particularly antiepileptic agents and allopurinol. Certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes, in combination with a particular drug, can further contribute to an increased risk of DRESS. Symptoms often develop 2 to 8 weeks after drug initiation. If diagnosis is delayed, DRESS can be a life-threatening condition. CASE REPORT We present cases of 2 patients. The first patient was an 86-year-old Polish woman who developed acute kidney injury and skin lesions with accompanying leucocytosis and eosinophilia during long-term antibiotic therapy with piperacillin/tazobactam and ciprofloxacin. The second patient was a 37-year-old Asian woman with predialysis chronic renal disease stage V in the course of IgA nephropathy. Two weeks after starting allopurinol in a standard dose, she presented with maculopapular rash, facial edema, fever, liver injury, and eosinophilia. Renal function started to deteriorate, but she did not require dialysis. In both cases, the discontinuation of the above-mentioned drugs and the introduction of steroid therapy and intravenous immunoglobulins allowed for clinical improvement and recovery. In the second case, the extended 4-locus HLA typing was performed retrospectively, and allele HLA-B*5801 was found. CONCLUSIONS Due to the rare occurrence and heterogeneous manifestation of DRESS, its diagnosis can pose many difficulties. In-depth analysis of symptoms, medicines taken, and laboratory findings enable the implementation of appropriate treatment and recovery.

Renal Manifestations of Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome: A Systematic Review of 71 Cases

Unlike other adverse drug reactions, visceral organ involvement is a prominent feature of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome and correlates with mortality. The aim of this study was to systematically review cases published in PubMed-indexed, peer-reviewed journals in which patients had renal injury during the episode of DRESS syndrome (DS). We found 71 cases, of which 67 were adults and 56% were males. Female sex was associated with higher mortality. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was present in 14% of patients who developed acute kidney injury (AKI) during DS. In 21% of cases, the kidneys were the only visceral organ involved, while 54% of patients had both liver and kidney involvement. Eosinophilia was absent in 24% of patients. The most common classes of medication associated with renal injury in DS were antibiotics in 34%, xanthine oxidase inhibitors in 15%, and anticonvulsants in 11%. Among antibiotics, vancomycin was the most common culprit in 68% of patients. AKI was the most common renal manifestation reported in 96% of cases, while isolated proteinuria or hematuria was present in only 4% of cases. In cases with AKI, 88% had isolated increase in creatinine and decrease in glomerular filtration (GFR), 27% had AKI concomitantly with proteinuria, 18% had oliguria, and 13% had concomitant AKI with hematuria. Anuria was the rarest manifestation, occurring in only 4% of patients with DS. Temporary renal replacement therapy was needed in 30% of cases, and all but one patient fully recovered renal function. Mortality of DS in this cohort was 13%, which is higher than previously reported. Medication class, latency period, or pre-existing CKD were not found to be associated with higher mortality. More research, particularly prospective studies, is needed to better recognize the risks associated with renal injury in patients with DS. The development of disease-specific biomarkers would also be useful so DS with renal involvement can be easier distinguished from other eosinophilic diseases that might affect the kidney.

Treatment with IL5-/IL-5 receptor antagonists in drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)

Purpose

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe delayed drug hypersensitivity reaction with exanthema, eosinophilia, and organ manifestations. After culprit drug withdrawal, systemic corticosteroids (CS) are the most widely used treatment, often requiring high doses for months. Blocking the IL-5/IL‑5 receptor axis with mepolizumab, reslizumab, and benralizumab is a promising targeted treatment with a good safety profile and no immunosuppressive effect. The aim of this study is to summarize current experience with the anti-IL5/IL-5-receptor therapy in DRESS.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all patients diagnosed with DRESS and treated with mepolizumab, reslizumab, or benralizumab in DRESS was performed. In addition, a PubMed-Medline search for publications on DRESS with anti-IL-5/IL‑5 receptor treatment was performed.

Results

Of the 14 cases identified, 6 patients were treated with mepolizumab, 6 with benralizumab, 1 patient with reslizumab, and 1 patient was switched from benralizumab to mepolizumab. The main indication for an IL‑5 blockade was a therapy-refractory course (7/14 [50.0%]), recurrent relapses (3/14 [21.4%]), and severe organ dysfunction (2/14 [14.3%]). In 13/14 (93%) cases, a rapid clinical improvement with suppression of eosinophilia and reduction of CS could be achieved. In all but two cases under mepolizumab (dose 100-600 mg) or reslizumab (dose according to body weight), two or more doses were necessary until resolution of DRESS. In 4/7 cases under benralizumab, a single 30 mg dose was sufficient.

Conclusion

Blockade of the IL-5/IL‑5 receptor axis appears to be a promising treatment in DRESS with fast clinical improvement, which may allow more rapid reduction of CS, and a good safety profile. In addition, a summary of recommendations on when to use blockade of the IL-5/IL‑5 receptor axis in DRESS treatment is provided.

Late sequelae of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) cause thyroid dysfunction and thyroiditis: review of literature

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is one of the severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs) with high mortality rate and variable long term sequelae, especially in thyroid dysfunction and thyroiditis. In this article, we review clinical course, culprit drugs, onset of diagnosis, and type of thyroid dysfunction in DRESS patients. There were a total of 51 cases including 12 children (aged less than 18 years old) and 39 adults from our review. The most common thyroid dysfunction was Hashimoto's thyroiditis (41/51=80.4%) including anti-thyroid antibody positive (29/51=56.9%), possible/compatible with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (12/51=23.5%) both in the children (n=12) and adult (n=39), Graves' disease/hyperthyroidism (7/51=13.7%) and non-specific hypothyroidism (3/51=5.9%), respectively. The most common culprit drugs and onset of thyroid dysfunction after DRESS diagnosis in children aged less than 18 years include antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine) (range 0-8 months, median 2 months) and sulfa groups (sulfasalazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfonamide) (range 1-4 months, median 2 months). Data of prevalence, type, and clinical course of thyroid dysfunction from DRESS is important for clinicians to recognize for monitoring its sequelae and provide plans for treatment.

Drug-Induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome (DIHS)/Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS): Clinical Features and Pathogenesis

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS) is one example of a severe delayed T-cell-mediated adverse drug reaction. DIHS/DRESS presents with fever, widespread rash and facial edema, organ involvement, and hematological abnormalities, including eosinophilia and atypical lymphocytosis. DIHS/DRESS is associated with relapse 2 to 4 weeks after acute symptoms, often coinciding with reactivation of prevalent chronic persistent human herpesviruses such as human herpesvirus 6, EBV, and cytomegalovirus. The mortality of DIHS/DRESS is up to 10% and often related to unrecognized myocarditis and cytomegalovirus complications, with longer-term consequences that contribute to morbidity including autoimmune diseases such as thyroiditis. It is essential that all potential drug causes, including all new drugs introduced within the 8 weeks preceding onset of DIHS/DRESS symptoms, are identified. All potential drug culprits, as well as drugs that are closely related structurally to the culprit drug, should be avoided in the future. Systemic corticosteroids have remained the mainstay for the treatment of DIHS/DRESS with internal organ involvement. Steroid-sparing agents, such as cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and monthly intravenous immune globulin, have been successfully used for treatment, and careful follow-up for cytomegalovirus reactivation is recommended. Strong associations between HLA class I alleles and DIHS/DRESS predisposition include HLA-B∗13:01 and dapsone, HLA-B∗58:01 and allopurinol, and HLA-B∗32:01 and vancomycin. These have opened a pathway for prevention, risk stratification, and earlier diagnosis. Single-cell sequencing and other studies of immunopathogenesis promise to identify targeted treatment approaches.