Title:Antipsychotics Induced Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic
Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome: Literature Review and a Report of a Suspected
Case Related to Chlorpromazine
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Lakhoua Ghozlane*, Jerbi Asma, Zaiem Ahmed, Charfi Ons, Kastalli Sarrah, Dhaghfous Riadh and El Aidli Sihem
Affiliation:
- National Center Chalbi Belkahia of Pharmacovigilance, 9 Avenue du Dr Zouhaier Essafi 1006, Tunis, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine, Research unit: UR17ES12, University of Tunis El Manar, 15 Rue Djebel Lakhdhar, La Rabta,
1007, Tunis, Tunisia
Keywords:
Dress syndrome, antipsychotics, chlorpromazine, psychopharmacology, allergic rhinitis, patch test.
Abstract:
Introduction/background: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms reaction
(DRESS) syndrome is a serious, potentially life-threatening drug side effect associated with
more and more drugs. However, antipsychotics have rarely been involved in such condition.
Case Report: We report here a suspected case of chlorpromazine induced DRESS syndrome in a
33-year-old woman with a history of allergic rhinitis and bipolar disorder who has reported an unexplored
generalized skin eruption after taking chlorpromazine 10 years before.
Only 24 hours after starting the therapy, the patient developed erythematous skin eruption on her
limbs and her trunk with biological abnormalities, including liver enzyme elevation and eosinophilia.
Skin eruption disappeared spontaneously within 3 days after therapy discontinuation and subsequently,
biological abnormalities regressed. Patch tests were performed and were positive for
chlorpromazine. At same time, we performed a literature review of the DRESS syndrome induced
by antipsychotics. No patch tests were performed for those cases.
Conclusion: Clinicians should be aware of such clinical features after starting patients on antipsychotics
to withdraw the culprit drug as early as possible and avoid further complications.
