Life Threatening, Allopurinol-related Dress Syndrome as a Rare Cause of Fever of Unknown Origin

Drug reaction eosinophilia with systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a potentially life threatening condition secondary to the usage of a wide type of drugs. A 38-year-old woman under allopurinol therapy for hyperuricemia was admitted in our department with fever and a diffuse cutaneous erythematous eruption. A few days after admission she developed rapidly progressive signs of acute liver and kidney failure. Subsequently, her clinical conditions shortly improved. The histologic findings obtained from skin and liver biopsies were consistent with a toxic drug reaction. The patient completely recovered and has been healthy for five years.