DRESS syndrome following ciprofloxacin exposure: An unusual association

Abstract

Patient: Female, 24Final Diagnosis: DRESS syndromeSymptoms: Fever • rash • facial and body swelling • muscular pain • diarrheaMedication: CiprofloxacinClinical Procedure: —Specialty: Internal Medicine • HematologyObjective:Unusual or unexpected effect of treatmentBackground:Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) is a rare, potentially life-threatening drug reaction with a mean latency period of 3.9 weeks. It has been described in association with many medications; yet, Ciprofloxacin was reported once in literature to be the offending drug. We are presenting a rare case of Ciprofloxacin-induced DRESS syndrome with symptom onset 2 days after exposure.Case Report:A 24-year-old female presented with symptoms suggestive of UTI and was prescribed Ciprofloxacin. Two days later she started to complain of fever, diffuse rash, swelling of her face, arms and flanks, watery diarrhea and muscular pain. Five days after symptom onset she presented to our institution with WBC count 38,810 cells/μL and absolute Eosinophil count 17,080 cell/μL. Peripheral blood smear showed immature Eosinophilic myelocytes and metamyelocytes. Skin biopsy showed superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltration with dermal edema. Further workup was negative for parasitic infestations, HIV and viral hepatitis, allergic diseases, hematologic and non-hematologic malignancies, vasculitides and autoimmune processes. Ciprofloxacin was discontinued upon admission and the patient started to improve quickly. Patient was followed in clinic after 3 weeks and was completely asymptomatic with WBC count 7,250 cell/μL and absolute Eosinophil count 2,900 cell/μL.Conclusions:DRESS syndrome is a possible complication of Ciprofloxacin treatment that clinicians should consider. Shorter latency period might be a unique feature of Fluoroquinolone-induced DRESS syndrome. According to RegiSCAR scoring system, our case is categorized as (probable) with a score of (4). In fact, the vast majority of reported cases are classified as (probable/definite).

Eosinophilic Drug Allergy

“…Antibiotics-beta-lactams, sulfonamides, minocycline, ciprofloxacin [12], nitrofurantoin [13], azithromycin, linezolid [14] Antituberculosis medications-rifampin, amikacin [15,16] Proton pump inhibitors [17] Immunomodulators-cyclosporine, lenalidomide [18], leflunomide [19], dapsone, pentoxyphylline [20], sulfasalazine…”

Dress Syndrome Due to Ciprofloxacin Use: Case Report

“…To our knowledge there are only two cases that developed DRESS after ciprofloxacin treatment, published in 2010 and 2011. 5,6 In DRESS the spectrum of skin lesions may vary from maculopapular eruptions to TEN. 4 In our case, DRESS developed on the 3 rd day of the ciprofloxacin treatment and we evaluated the skin lesions as TEN for both histopathological and clinical features.…”

“…1,5,6 Here, a young woman who used oral ciprofloxacin for nasal discharge, diarrhoea, vomiting, and developed TEN and consequently DRESS with the addition of systemic symptoms is presented.…”

DRESS syndrome in the aged: a differential diagnosis to be considered

“…5,10 In the long-term, there may be an association with autoimmune events. 4,6 Anticonvulsants are the most frequently involved drugs [4][5][6] , with few reports of cases induced by fluoroquinolones 11,12 Criteria No Yes Unknown .…”

“…11,12 Furthermore, the possibility that the syndrome was induced by metronidazole cannot be ruled out, even though it is unlikely given the scant evidence for this association in the literature.…”