Sulfasalazine-induced DRESS syndrome (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms)

Authors

  • Renata Telles Rudge de Aquino Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo
  • Carmen Silvia Vieitas Vergueiro Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo
  • Maria Elisa Ruffolo Magliari Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo
  • Thais Helena Proença de Freitas Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

Keywords:

Drug eruptions, Sulfasalazine, Hypersensitivity, Eosinophilia, Sulfonamides

Abstract

CONTEXT: DRESS syndrome (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) is a type of drug reaction commonly mistaken for a viral infection. It must be recognized promptly due to its high morbidity and 10% mortality rate. Few cases of DRESS syndrome induced by sulfasalazine have been reported in the literature. CASE REPORT: The case of a 47-year-old white Brazilian woman who developed DRESS syndrome eight weeks after starting a course of sulfasalazine for treatment of seronegative arthritis is reported. She presented a skin rash, fever, hepatitis, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia and atypical lymphocytes. The causative drug was discontinued immediately, but she only improved after treatment with prednisone.

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Author Biographies

Renata Telles Rudge de Aquino, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

MD, PhD. Assistant professor, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Carmen Silvia Vieitas Vergueiro, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

MD, MSc. Lecturer, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Maria Elisa Ruffolo Magliari , Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

MD, MSc. Lecturer, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Thais Helena Proença de Freitas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo

MD, MSc. Assistant professor, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

References

Teo L, Tan E. Sulphasalazine-induced DRESS. Singapore Med J. 2006;47(3):237-9.

Bocquet H, Bagot M, Roujeau JC. Drug-induced pseudolym- phoma and drug hypersensitivity syndrome (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms: DRESS). Semin Cutan Med Surg. 1996;15(4):250-7.

Roujeau JC. Clinical heterogeneity of drug hypersensitivity. Toxicology. 2005;209(2):123-9.

Peyrière H, Dereure O, Breton H, et al. Variability in the clinical pattern of cutaneous side-effects of drugs with systemic symptoms: does a DRESS syndrome really exist? Br J Dermatol. 2006;155(2):422-8.

Michel F, Navellou JC, Ferraud D, Toussirot E, Wendling D. DRESS syndrome in a patient on sulfasalazine for rheumatoid arthritis. Joint Bone Spine. 2005;72(1):82-5.

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Published

2008-07-07

How to Cite

1.
Aquino RTR de, Vergueiro CSV, Magliari MER, Freitas THP de. Sulfasalazine-induced DRESS syndrome (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms). Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2008 Jul. 7 [cited 2025 Oct. 16];126(4):225-6. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/1991

Issue

Section

Case Report