Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome: A rare life threatening complication of dapsone therapy

Abstract

Dapsone can cause several adverse effects, the most serious being dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS), which is potentially fatal. Here we report a case of severe, life threatening dapsone systemic hypersensitivity syndrome in a 17-year-old male who presented with high grade fever, eosinophilia, lymphadenopathy, skin rash, hepatitis and encephalopathy, which was managed successfully with oral steroids. The case is being reported to emphasize the need for timely diagnosis and prompt treatment of this rare complication for successful outcomes. DHS is also reviewed in brief.

DRESS syndrome: A life-threatening complication of dapsone therapy

“…Occurrence of DS has been reported with dapsone in published case series 1,4 . In our patient, the presence of fever>38 0 C, bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, hepatic involvement and blood count abnormalities fulfilled the RegiSCAR criteria for diagnosis of DS.…”

A 50-Year-Old Male with Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome

“…Prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day was continued for one month and then tapered off over next six weeks, with complete normalization of liver function and resolution of lymphadenopathy. 11 Gavilanes A 12 reported a 31-year-old white married man born in Japeri, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil who was diagnosed with lepromatous leprosy and admitted four weeks after the start of World Health Organization (WHO) multidrug therapy (MDT). He presented at the outpatient department with prostration, fever, nausea and vomiting.…”

“…Vinod et al 11 presented a 17-year-old male with complaints of high grade fever associated with chills and rigors, jaundice and itchy skin rash for 10 days. One month prior to current admission, he was given dapsone 100 mg/day by a dermatologist for suspected lichen planus.…”

Profile of serious adverse drug events in a tertiary care hospital of South India - a five years experience

“…29 Differences in dapsone metabolism, which affect the production and detoxification of its reactive metabolites might be responsible for differential susceptibility of people to the adverse effects of dapsone. 30 Acute pancreatitis is commonly caused by choledocholithiasis, ethanol abuse, trauma and drugs, including statins, diuretics, antiretroviral agents and anticonvulsants. 31 The incidence of sodium valproateinduced pancreatitis has been estimated to be 1:40,000.…”