Objective: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare cause of cervical lymphadenopathy. It is a potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction, commonly characterized by fever, rash, hematological abnormalities, and multi-organ involvement. Its association with agranulocytosis is even rarer, with fewer than 10 cases describing the coexistence of DRESS with agranulocytosis reported in the English literature. Case Summary: An otherwise well 40-year-old female presented with a sore throat and cervical lymphadenopathy, with investigations revealing DRESS and agranulocytosis secondary to carbamazepine. Conclusion: DRESS and agranulocytosis are serious, potentially life-threatening adverse drug reactions which can initially present as cervical lymphadenopathy. As carbamazepine is considered first-line therapy for certain chronic neuropathic conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, clinicians should be aware of the varying clinical presentations of both conditions.
Objective: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare cause of cervical lymphadenopathy. It is a potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction, commonly characterized by fever, rash, hematological abnormalities, and multi-organ involvement. Its association with agranulocytosis is even rarer, with fewer than 10 cases describing the coexistence of DRESS with agranulocytosis reported in the English literature. Case Summary: An otherwise well 40-year-old female presented with a sore throat and cervical lymphadenopathy, with investigations revealing DRESS and agranulocytosis secondary to carbamazepine. Conclusion: DRESS and agranulocytosis are serious, potentially life-threatening adverse drug reactions which can initially present as cervical lymphadenopathy. As carbamazepine is considered first-line therapy for certain chronic neuropathic conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, clinicians should be aware of the varying clinical presentations of both conditions.
Authors: S H Kardaun; A Sidoroff; L Valeyrie-Allanore; S Halevy; B B Davidovici; M Mockenhaupt; J C Roujeau Journal: Br J Dermatol Date: 2007-03 Impact factor: 9.302
Authors: Patrice Cacoub; Philippe Musette; Vincent Descamps; Olivier Meyer; Chris Speirs; Laetitia Finzi; Jean Claude Roujeau Journal: Am J Med Date: 2011-05-17 Impact factor: 4.965
Authors: Tanner J Bommersbach; Maria I Lapid; Jonathan G Leung; Julie L Cunningham; Teresa A Rummans; Simon Kung Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Date: 2016-04-25 Impact factor: 7.616