Clinical Comparison of In-patients with Drug-induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome between the Departments of Dermatology and Internal Medicine

Nam, Hyun Min; Park, Kun; Park, Seok Don

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Because more severe patients tend to be admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine, drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome may be underestimated by the dermatological evaluation of only in-patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was designed to compare the clinical features of in-patients with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome in the Departments of Dermatology and Internal Medicine.
METHODS
Between January 2000 and September 2010, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 10 in-patients in the Department of Dermatology and 11 in-patients in the Department of Internal Medicine in drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome.
RESULTS
The average age of onset was older in the internal medicine group than the dermatology group. The most common causative agent in the dermatology group was carbamazepine. The most common causative agents in the internal medicine group were carbamazepine, anti-tuberculosis, and allopruinol. The average latent period was longer in the internal medicine group than the dermatology group. The most common morphological feature in the dermatology group was maculopapular eruption, but in the internal medicine group was exfoliative dermatitis. Abnormal laboratory findings in drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome were more severe in the internal medicine group than the dermatology group. The average treatment period was longer in the internal medicine group than the dermatology group.
CONCLUSION
Our study suggests that in-patients of the internal medicine in drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome are more severe than in-patients ofthe dermatology. Therefore, it is important that dermatologists recognize the concept of this syndrome much more widely.