title: Phenobarbital-induced DRESS: a lichenoïd picture.
abstract: We describe, the first case of phenobarbital-induced DRESS syndrome presenting as a lichenoïd eruption. A 49-year-old man had received phenobarbital for a cerebral metastasis. Twenty-five days later, he developed a purplish skin eruption, odynophagia, oral mucosal erosion and fever. Physical examination revealed a cervical lymphadenopathy and facial edema associated to a diffuse violaceous maculo-papular itchy rash. Laboratory findings showed a 1200/mm³ eosinophil's cell count. Alanine aminotransferase was 169 IU/l. Lactate dehydrogenase and creatinine phosphokinase were at 768 and 90 IU/l, respectively. All symptoms resolved completely five weeks after phenobarbital withdrawal. Few days later, the patient died because of a cardio-respiratory arrest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia. chaabane_amel@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaabane
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia. benfadhelnaj@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Najah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben Fadhel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia. zohrachadly@ymail.com.
authors.forename: Zohra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chadli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia. benfredj.nadia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben Fredj
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia. naboughattas@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Naceur A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Boughattas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia. aouam_k@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aouam
mesh_terms: D063926:Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D017512:Lichenoid Eruptions / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D010634:Phenobarbital