Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome in non-leprosy patients: a retrospective study of its incidence in a tertiary referral center in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS) is a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction consisting of fever, hepatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, lymphadenopathy and hemolytic anemia. The incidence of DHS is estimated to be 2% in leprosy patients. Because the incidence of this drug eruption may be different in different ethnicities and diseases, we thought to investigate the incidence of DHS in non-leprosy patients.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study to examine the incidence, clinical manifestations and prognosis of DHS in non-leprosy patients who were given dapsone at the National Taiwan University Hospital between June 2001 and December 2005.


RESULTS
The incidence of DHS among non-leprosy patients was 1.66%. These patients ran a relatively benign course as compared with leprosy patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of DHS among non-leprosy patients was compatible to that observed among leprosy patients. DHS in non-leprosy patients runs a favorable course with low morbidity in our study.
Sheen
Yi-Shuan
YS
Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chu
Chia-Yu
CY
Wang
Shiou-Han
SH
Tsai
Tsen-Fang
TF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000139:chemically induced; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003622:Dapsone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000139:chemically induced; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D013577:Syndrome; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D003622:Dapsone