Management and treatment outcome of DRESS patients in Europe: An international multicentre retrospective study of 141 cases

BackgroundDrug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare but potentially fatal drug hypersensitivity reaction. ObjectiveTo explore treatment approaches across Europe and their impact on the disease course, as well as prognostic factors and culprit drugs. MethodsIn this retrospective European multicentric study, we included patients with probable or certain DRESS (RegiSCAR score >= 4) between January 2016 and December 2020. Independent associations between clinical parameters and the risk of intensive care unit admission and mortality at three months were assessed using a multivariable-adjusted logistic regression model. ResultsA total of 141 patients from 8 tertiary centres were included. Morbilliform exanthem was the most frequent cutaneous manifestation (78.0%). The mean affected body surface area (BSA) was 67%, 42% of the patients presented with erythroderma, and 24.8% had mucosal involvement. Based on systemic involvement, 31.9% of the patients had a severe DRESS. Anticonvulsants (24.1%) and sulphonamides (22.0%) were the most frequent causative agents. In all, 73% of the patients were treated with systemic glucocorticoids, and 25.5% received topical corticosteroids as monotherapy. Few patients received antiviral drugs or anti-IL5. No patients received intravenous immunoglobulins. The overall mortality was 7.1%. Independent predictors of mortality were older age (>= 57.0 years; fully adjusted OR, 9.80; 95% CI, 1.20-79.93; p = 0.033), kidney involvement (fully adjusted OR, 4.70; 95% CI, 1.00-24.12; p = 0.049), and admission in intensive care unit (fully adjusted OR, 8.12; 95% CI, 1.90-34.67; p = 0.005). Relapse of DRESS and delayed autoimmune sequelae occurred in 8.5% and 12.1% of patients, respectively. ConclusionsThis study underlines the need for diagnostic and prognostic scores/markers as well as for prospective clinical trials of drugs with the potential to reduce mortality and complications of DRESS.

Automated summary

This study investigated the treatment approaches, disease course, prognostic factors, and culprit drugs of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) in Europe. The results showed that the most common cutaneous manifestation in the patients was morbilliform exanthem (78.0%), and 31.9% of the patients had severe DRESS based on systemic involvement. Most patients received glucocorticoid treatment (73%), and further research is needed to reduce the mortality and complications of DRESS.