The anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome.
BACKGROUND
The anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome is a potentially fatal multisystemic reaction to anticonvulsant medications.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome.


RESULTS
A total 32 subjects, aged from 6 to 72 years, diagnosed as having anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome based on clinical and histopathological findings, were included in the study. In 22 of the 32 cases, the anticonvulsants had been administered prophylactically after craniotomy and in 10 cases for epilepsy. When the cases were assessed for skin lesions, maculopapular eruption was registered in 22, Stevens-Johnson syndrome in five, and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) in five. Treatment included suspension of the offending drug and then, except for the cases with toxic epidermal necrolysis, administration of corticosteroids. The 22 cases that required anticonvulsant therapy were treated with valproic acid. In all cases, we observed rapid clinical improvement corroborated by laboratory findings.


CONCLUSIONS
It is essential that due importance be given to the development of an eruption in individuals to whom anticonvulsants are administered after craniotomy because anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome is likely to be life-threatening.
Baba
M
M
Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, 01330 Adana, Turkey.
Karakaş
M
M
Aksungur
V L
VL
Homan
S
S
Yücel
A
A
Acar
M A
MA
Memişoglu
H R
HR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
D000927:Anticonvulsants