Infect Chemother.  2012 Jun;44(3):197-200. 10.3947/ic.2012.44.3.197.

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome Induced by Ethambutol and Rifampin

• Jung ES
• Choi B
• Choi HS
• Kim BH
• Ha M
• Shin D
• Park JS
• Lee JR
• Seo YH
• Park YS

• KMID: 2170372
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2012.44.3.197

Abstract

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a disorder which can be caused by treatment with a diverse collection of drugs, and it is characterized by fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, and internal organ involvement with eosinophilia. Although ethambutol and rifampin are popularly used to treat tuberculosis, there has been only one reported case of DRESS syndrome associated with ethambutol. DRESS syndrome associated with administration of rifampin have not been reported. In this report and discussion, we present the case of a patient suffering from DRESS syndrome induced by both ethambutol and rifampin.

Keyword

Ethambutol; Rifampin; DRESS syndrome

MeSH Terms

Eosinophilia
Ethambutol
Exanthema
Fever
Humans
Lymphatic Diseases
Rifampin
Stress, Psychological
Tuberculosis
Ethambutol
Rifampin

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 The rash extended on the patient's face (A) and entire body (B).

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  Figure 2 There was perivascular lymphocytic infiltration and vasodilation of the upper dermis (hematoxylin-eosin staining, magnification ×100).

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  Figure 3 Laboratory data from admission to discharge (the solid arrow indicates the ethambutol challenge and the dashed arrow indicates the rifampin challenge).

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