Case Report
Volume: 6 | Issue: 4 | Published: Jul 07, 2022 | Pages: 64 - 67 | DOI: 10.24911/ejmcr/173-1640961455
Fever with pancytopenia in a patient with lamotrigin induced DRESS syndrome: a case-based review
Authors: Dimitris Kounatidis , Christina Vourlakou , Fotis Panagopoulos , Ioanna Papaodyssea , Eugenia Grivakou , Vasilis Stamatopoulos , Alexandros Skourtis , Natalia Vallianou
Article Info
Authors
Dimitris Kounatidis
Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Christina Vourlakou
Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Fotis Panagopoulos
Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Ioanna Papaodyssea
Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Eugenia Grivakou
Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Vasilis Stamatopoulos
Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Alexandros Skourtis
Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Natalia Vallianou
Department of Internal Medicine, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Publication History
Received: December 31, 2021
Accepted:
Published: July 07, 2022
Abstract
Background: Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare idiosyncratic and unpredictable drug reaction most commonly attributed to anticonvulsants, allopurinol, and antibiotics. Fever in combination with cutaneous manifestations and eosinophilia are the cardinal clinical findings, while organ involvement and very rarely pancytopenia can be present. Case presentation: We describe a 26-year-old female patient with pancytopenia in the context of lamotrigine-induced DRESS and we summarize this as a potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction. Conclusion: DRESS should be suspected in patients presenting with fever, eosinophilia, skin involvement, and/or visceral organ involvement, who have started a new drug during the past 2 to 6 weeks, as early recognition of this syndrome with subsequent discontinuation of the offending drug could be lifesaving.
Keywords: DRESS, lamotrigine, hypersensitivity reaction, pancytopenia, green
