Two cases of overlap severe cutaneous adverse reactions to benznidazole treatment for asymptomatic Chagas disease in a nonendemic country
- 7 April 2016
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in British Journal of Dermatology
- Vol. 175 (3), 604-607
- https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.14451
Abstract
Chagas disease is a parasitosis endemic to South America. It is normally treated with benznidazole as first choice, which has been associated with numerous cutaneous reactions. However, very few benznidazole-associated severe cutaneous adverse reactions have been reported to date. The rise of Chagas disease in nonendemic countries represents a growing public health challenge. We report two patients who met the criteria for drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome and Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis according to the RegiSCAR scoring systems. They were thus deemed overlapping cases, with a lymphocyte transformation test positive for benznidazole. Both required intensive care unit admission and both survived. Considering the rising application of this drug for trypanosomiasis in immigrant populations, clinicians should be aware of this newly reported, potentially life-threatening risk.Keywords
Funding Information
- Spanish Ministry of Health (EC10-349)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI122/02267, FIS PI13/01768)
This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit:
- A Clinical Adverse Drug Reaction Prediction Model for Patients with Chagas Disease Treated with BenznidazoleAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2014
- Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis due to benznidazoleThe Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 2014
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis, DRESS, AGEP: Do overlap cases exist?Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 2012
- Safety of benznidazole use in the treatment of chronic Chagas' diseaseJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2012
- The DRESS Syndrome: A Literature ReviewAmerican Journal Of Medicine, 2011
- Tolerance of Benznidazole in Treatment of Chagas' Disease in AdultsAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2010
- Open trial of ciclosporin treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysisBritish Journal of Dermatology, 2010
- Association of human herpesvirus 6 reactivation with the flaring and severity of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndromeBritish Journal of Dermatology, 2007
- Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms vs toxic epidermal necrolysis: the dilemma of classificationClinics in Dermatology, 2005