Novel targeted inhibition of the IL-5 axis for drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome

Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis of Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DReSS) in Children: A Scoping Review

Effective treatment of drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DReSS) requires early diagnosis and close monitoring. Diagnosing DReSS is especially challenging in children due to a low incidence rate, heterogeneous clinical presentation, and a lack of (pediatric) diagnostic criteria and clinical practice guidelines. We performed a scoping review, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, to summarize the clinical presentation and diagnostic process of DReSS in children (aged 0-18 years). Data from 644 individuals showed that DReSS manifests differently in children compared to adults. Children have a higher number of organs involved, including higher rates of cardiac and respiratory involvement compared to adults. Children < 6 years of age appear more prone to develop neurologic symptoms. Conversely, eosinophilia, edema, and kidney involvement are less frequently observed in children. Anti-seizure medications are by far the most common causative drug class, but the range of implicated drugs increases as children get older. This study highlights that children with DReSS not only differ from adults but also that differences exist between children of different ages. As such, there is a need to establish pediatric-specific diagnostic criteria. These efforts will promote earlier diagnosis of DReSS and likely lead to improved clinical care offered to children and their families.

Unraveling the complexities of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS): Insights into clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features of a case series from an Italian tertiary center

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe and potentially life-threatening drug hypersensitivity reaction. The diagnosis and management of DRESS are complicated due to its heterogeneous clinical and pathologic presentations, delayed onset of signs and symptoms, and unpredictable outcome. This retrospective study aimed to analyze cases of DRESS from a single Italian referring tertiary hospital center (Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy) with a focus on clinical features, causative drugs, histopathologic findings, and treatment. We have included 18 of 32 patients with a probable or definite diagnosis of DRESS. The study observed a slight predominance of women, with antimicrobials and allopurinol identified as the main causative drugs. Clinical manifestations varied, with a monomorphic maculopapular eruption being the most common, whereas facial edema and mucosal involvement were less frequently observed. Multiple organs were commonly affected, with liver and kidney involvement being prominent. Cardiac involvement was associated with the severity of eosinophilia. Laboratory evaluations showed elevated eosinophil levels and increased eosinophil cationic protein levels, supporting the role of eosinophils in DRESS pathogenesis. Histopathologic analysis revealed various patterns often coexisting in the same biopsy in 83% of cases, with interface dermatitis being the most frequent, followed by the perivascular pattern and the spongiotic/eczematous pattern. We observed eosinophils in the biopsy samples in about 50% of patients, and the relationship between peripheral eosinophilia and eosinophils in skin biopsies was not significant. In addition to the RegiSCAR score, age may play a role in predicting disease severity, as older patients with lower scores had poorer outcomes. The prognosis of DRESS depended on early identification, discontinuation of the causative agent, and appropriate therapy. Systemic corticosteroids were the primary treatment option.

Advances in understanding of the pathogenesis and therapeutic implications of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms: an updated review

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms or drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DRESS/DIHS) is one type of severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR). It is featured by fever, widespread skin lesions, protracted clinical course, internal organ involvement, and possibly long-term autoimmune sequelae. The presence of high-risk human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, hypersensitivity reaction after culprit drug ingestion, and human herpesvirus reactivation may all contribute to its complex clinical manifestations. Some recent studies focusing on the roles of involved cytokines/chemokines and T cells co-signaling pathways in DRESS/DIHS were conducted. In addition, some predictors of disease severity and prognosis were also reported. In this review, we provided an update on the current understanding of the pathogenesis, potential biomarkers, and the relevant therapeutic rationales of DRESS/DIHS.