[The drug hypersensitivity syndrome or DRESS syndrome to phenobarbital].

Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS syndrome) or the drug hypersensitivity syndrome is a delayed and serious skin disease. It is manifest by a severe skin reaction associated with a severe visceral attack (adenopathy, hepatitis, nephritis, interstitial pneumopathy...) and haematological anomalies (raised hypereosinophilia...). The severe visceral attack is the main cause of death, which is estimated at around 10%. The principal drugs responsible are the aromatic anti-convulsants, sulphamides and minocycline. A large number of cases have been described with phenytoin, more rarely with carbamazepine and phenobarbitone.