Abacavir-induced reaction with fever and severe skin rash in a patient tested human leukocyte antigen-B*5701 negative.
The most serious adverse event caused by abacavir is the hypersensitivity reaction, which is usually associated with the presence of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) subtype B*5701, as shown in recent studies. We describe the case of a 41-year-old Caucasian female patient, who tested HLA-B*5701 negative and developed fever and severe skin rash 10 weeks after the start of abacavir therapy. Similar reports suggest that not all severe abacavir-induced adverse events occur as a result of classic hypersensitivity reactions, and can present also in HLA-B*5701-negative patients.
Calza
L
L
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, 'Alma Mater Studiorum' University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. leonardo.calza@unibo.it
Rosseti
N
N
Biagetti
C
C
Pocaterra
D
D
Colangeli
V
V
Manfredi
R
R
D000328:Adult; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000099227:Abacavir
D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D000099227:Abacavir; C484830:HLA-B*57:01 antigen