Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (DRESS syndrome): report of 4 cases

Abstract Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome is a rare and potentially fatal reaction characterized by fever, skin rash and internal organ envolvement. Phenytoin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine are the most frequent aromatic anticonvulsivant drugs causing the reaction. We report 4 adult patients, 2 males and 2 females, between 20 and 42 years old with clinical, laboratorial and histopathological findings consistent with anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome started 4 and 8 weeks after the administration of the drug. The causative drugs were phenytoin, carbamazepine and the association of valproic acid and lamotrigine (Dermatol Argent 2010;16(4):272-277). Keywords: DRESS (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms), Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome.