SAEM Clinical Images Series: Rapidly Spreading Rash

2023-12-15T09:19:09-08:00

Dec 18, 2023 | Dermatology, SAEM Clinical Images

By: Alicia Hereford, MD and Matthew Heimann, MD |Editors: Jessica Hoglund, MD; Moises Gallegos, MD, MPH

DRESS

A 19-year-old female with a past medical history of epilepsy presented to the emergency department for evaluation of rash and fever. Two days prior to presentation she began to experience fevers with a Tmax of 103°F. One day before presentation she developed a rash that began on her face and slowly spread down her body, now involving her palms. The patient endorsed associated pruritus and cervical lymphadenopathy with the rash. The patient specifically denied mucous membrane involvement (mouth, eyes, genitalia), vomiting, diarrhea, dysuria, hematuria, neck stiffness, cough, dyspnea, chest pain, or exposure to ticks or exotic animals. Of note, she reported that her dose of lamotrigine has been slowly uptitrated, most recently two days prior changing from 50 mg BID to 75 mg BID.

Additional Images

Physical Exam

Vitals: T 39.6°C; HR 140; BP 102/66; RR 15; O2 sat 97% on RA

General: Alert and oriented, well-developed female in no acute distress

Cardiovascular: Tachycardia, regular rhythm

HEENT: Bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy; facial edema; conjunctiva clear; oral mucous membranes clear

Skin: Deeply erythematous/papules coalescing into plaques diffusely on the face, trunk, extremities; no pustules, purpura, or vesicles/bullae noted; no scales or desquamation

Laboratory Data

Complete Blood Count (CBC): WBC 9.84 (eosinophils 7%), Platelets 144

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP): 180

ALT: 378

AST: 228

C-reactive protein (CRP): 91

Urine protein: 11 mg/dL

Case Question: What is the most likely diagnosis?

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. DRESS syndrome is an idiosyncratic, potentially fatal, adverse drug reaction to anticonvulsants, antimicrobials, antivirals, or allopurinol with a multifactorial pathogenesis. It has a delayed onset, typically within 2-8 weeks, after drug initiation. Clinical presentation can be diverse but is usually characterized by a diffuse skin rash, fever, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, and internal organ involvement (most commonly the liver). Incidence ranges from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 with a mortality rate that can be as high as 10%, and is commonly related to fulminant hepatitis. Diagnosis can be extremely challenging due to the variability in clinical presentation. The regiSCAR diagnostic criteria is the most used diagnostic criteria and is based on a scoring system for possible, probable, or definite diagnosis.

Case Question: How should this condition be managed?

Immediate discontinuation of the offending medication is critical. Symptoms may continue for several weeks after withdrawal of the inciting agent. The mainstay of treatment is systemic corticosteroids with tapering over a long period. Other immunosuppressants may be used in refractory cases. If DRESS syndrome occurs in the setting of an aromatic anticonvulsant, the patient should not be started on any other aromatic anticonvulsants due to their cross-reactivity.

Case Discussion

Take-Home Points

DRESS syndrome is a severe, possible life-threatening adverse drug reaction that is frequently overlooked and missed because of its variable clinical presentation. Increasing familiarity with its clinical presentation is of utmost importance for recognition and treatment.
The inciting agent (aromatic anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, allopurinol, etc.) should be stopped immediately and should not be restarted at any time. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment with gradual tapering over multiple months.

References

Cho YT, Yang CW, Chu CY. Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS): An Interplay among Drugs, Viruses, and Immune System. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Jun 9;18(6):1243. doi: 10.3390/ijms18061243. PMID: 28598363; PMCID: PMC5486066.
Choudhary S, McLeod M, Torchia D, Romanelli P. Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2013 Jun;6(6):31-7. PMID: 23882307; PMCID: PMC3718748.

Copyright

Images and cases from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Clinical Images Exhibit at the 2023 SAEM Annual Meeting | Copyrighted by SAEM 2023 – all rights reserved. View other cases from this Clinical Image Series on ALiEM.