title: Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome: sex and the causative agent.
abstract: The study was conducted to determine whether there is a sex difference in the causative agent of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome. A retrospective review of hospital records from 1999 to 2006 in the dermatology department of a large municipal medical center found 8 patients who met the criteria for DRESS syndrome: drug-induced generalized eruption, associated systemic involvement (lymph node or visceral), and presence of eosinophilia (eosinophil count > or =1500/microL and/or circulating atypical lymphocytes). There were 4 men and 4 women, aged 19 to 53 years, with a mean age of 38 years. A sex difference was found in 3 parameters: (1) age, younger age in women; (2) time interval between drug intake and rash, shorter in women; and (3) the culprit drug: carbamazepine in 2 men and 2 women, salazopyrin in 2 women, and phenytoin in 2 men. While the sample is small, there is an indication of sex differences in the DRESS syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Keren Ben-Ari
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Maoz
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brenner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D010672:Phenytoin