Drug Reactions Flashcards
What are the preformed mediators in mast cells?
Proteases (tryptase, chymase), heparin, histamine
What are the synthesized mediators in mast cells?
prostaglandins, leukotrienes, platelet activating factor, cytokines
If a pediatric patient gets DRESS on phenytoin for seizures, what medication should they be switched to and what ones should they not be transitioned to?
Can transition to Valproic acid, there is no cross-reactivity.
There is cross-reactivity with all aromatic anticonvulsants = phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbitol
How are cutaneous drug reactions divided?
Simple (no visceral/systemic involvement) and complex (systemic involvement)
What is the prevalence of severe cutaneous adverse reactions among patients with drug reactions?
2% (SJS/TEN, DRESS/DHS, AGEP, anaphylaxis anticoagulant-induced skin necrosis, and generalized fixed drug)
What are the most common morphologies of drug rash?
Morbilliform (92%)>>>urticarial (6%)>vasculitis (2%)
When are HIV patients at the highest risk of getting cutaneous drug reactions?
Increased risk across the board, but the highest risk occurs when the CD4 count is 100-400/mm3.
What are the most common causes of cutaneous drug rash in patients with HIV?
TMP/SMX (rash in 40% of HIV pts), dapsone, beta-lactams, nevirapine, abacavir, and anticonvulsants
What is the timing of a morbilliform drug rash?
7-14 days after drug initiation (cell-mediated hypersensitivity)
What are the most common culprits of morbilliform drug rash?
Beta-lactams, TMP/SMX, anticonvulsants, and allopurinol
What viral infections significantly increase the risk of rash from medications?
HIV: especially true for TMP/SMX (40%)
EBV: ampicillin in pts w/ EBV-mononucleosis gives rash in all children and 70% of adults
What is the clinical presentation of a morbilliform drug rash?
The rash starts w/ red-pink macules and papules in the groin/axilla and later progress to symmetrically-distributed red macules and papules on the trunk and upper extremities often w/ pruritus (note that viral exanthems aren’t usually pruritic)
- Rash becomes more confluent over time and the lesions on the lower extremities can have a purpuric component
Doesn’t affect mucous membranes, no facial edema, no peripheral eosinophilia, no dusky/painful lesions on the skin
What is the progression of simple morbilliform drug rash?
Clears after 1-2 weeks after drug cessation (will also stop if the drug is continued… doesn’t progress to angioedema/more serious reaction in vast majority of pts)
What is the histology of a simple morbilliform drug reaction?
MIld basal vacuolar and spongiotic changes w/ few necrotic keratinocytes (50%). Can have superficial to mid dermal perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate w/ some eos
What is the prognosis of Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
10% mortality
What is the timing of Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
Occurs later, 2-6 weeks after initiation of a drug
What are the most common sx’s in Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
Fever (85%), morbilliform skin eruption (75%), arthralgias (>arthritis), multi-organ involvement (liver is most common and severe followed by kidney), peripheral eosinophilia (>1500 absolute eos), mononucleosis-like atypical lymphocytosis
What is the usual progression of the rash in Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
Starts on the face and upper trunk/extremities; appears morbilliform but can become more edematous (facial edema is important early sign), with follicular accentuation and you can have tense vesicles or bullae, pustules, and purpuric lesions
What are the late sequelae that can occur in Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
Thyroiditis/Graves, SIADH, and diabetes
Can occur up to a year out from initial rash
What virus is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
HHV-6 reactivation (>HHV-7, CMV, and EBV)
What is the most common classes of meds that are known to cause Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
Aromatic anticonvulsants (phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital), lamotrigine (especially when coadministered w/ valproate), sulfonamides, minocycline, dapsone, allopurinol, abacavir, and nevirapine
Which medications are more likely to affect the liver in Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
Dapsone, Minocycline, aromatic anticonvulsants
Which medications are more likely to cause cardiac issues in Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
Ampicillin, minocycline
Which medications are more likely to cause renal damage in Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
Allopurinol, carbamazapine, dapsone
What patients are at higher risk of allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome?
Patients with renal failure, Han Chinese with HLA-B*5801,
What clinical differences can be seen in the allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome as compared to Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS) in general?
Liver involvement in 70%, kidney involvement in up to 80%, can also cause pancreatitis and diabetes
25% mortality
Clinical presentation of dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome?
Concomitant hemolysis and methemoglobinemia is common
Look for increased bilirubin, icterus, LAD (80%), lacks eosinophilia, liver involvement can be fatal
What are some important clinical components of minocycline hypersensitivity syndrome?
Usually seen in young adults getting tx for acne. Associated with glutathione S-transferase deficiency
Strong association with interstitial eosinophilic pneumonia; liver involvement in 75%; renal involvement in up to 20%
What is the treatment of Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS)?
Stop the medication and give superpotent topical steroids for skin-limited dz or systemic steroids if lung and heart involved (questionable efficacy in renal or liver dz)
relapse common if steroids tapered too rapidly (need to give for weeks to months)
What things can induce acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)?
Medications most common: beta-lactam antibiotics, NSAIDS, etc
What is the timeline for acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)?
Occurs rapidly (<4 days) after drug administration
What are the clinical features of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)?
High fever and small (<5mm) non-follicular, sterile pustules arising on a background of edematous red skin
Commonly begins on the face and intertriginous sites and then generalizes within hours
What clinical findings help distinguish acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) from pustular psoriasis?
AGEP more commonly have purpuric or EM-like lesions (50%), mucosal involvement, edema of face/hands, or bullae
What lab findings are seen in acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)?
Increased WBC with peripheral neutrophilia +/- eos, hypocalcemia, and renal insufficiency
Most common drugs in acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)?
Beta-lactam, macrolide antibiotics, calcium channel blockers (diltiazem most common), and antimalarials (longer latency)
What is the histology of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)?
Subcorneal and intraepidermal spongiform pustules, prominent superficial dermal edema, perivascular mixed inflammatory infiltrate w/ eos
Shouldn’t see eos in psoriasis
What histologic features help distinguish acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) from pustular psoriasis?
Edema, eos, and lack of acanthosis helps distinguish AGEP from pustular psoriasis
Treatment for acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)?
Stop medication that is causing it, supportive therapy w/ topical steroids and antipyretics
What are two types of photosensitive drug reactions?
Phototoxic (most common) or photoallergic
What is a phototoxic reaction?
Most common and predictable. Most commonly occurs with systemic medications
caused by direct interaction between UVR (UVA most commonly) and drug/drug metabolites which then produce free radicals and damage to skin cells
What is the clinical presentation of a phototoxic medication reaction?
Painful exaggerate sunburn-like eruption that can have blistering. This heals with hyperpigmentation
What is the histopathology of a phototoxic medication reaction?
Same as sunburn (necrotic keratinocytes (“sunburn cells”), dermal edema, minimal dermal inflammation, and vasodilation
What are the most common medications to cause a phototoxic medication reaction?
Tetracyclines (democlocycline>doxycycline>TCn>>>>>minocycline), NSAIDs (naproxen, piroxicam), fluoroquinolones, amiodarone, psoralens, phenothiazines (chlorpromazine and prochlorperazine), voriconazole (can increase risk of SCC), St. Johns Wort, and HCTZ
What medications can cause pseudoporphyria?
This is an exaggerated phototoxic reaction:
Naproxen (#1), thiazides, voriconazole, furosemide, TCN’s, nalidixic acid, and tanning bed exposure
What are some differences between pseudoporphyria and PCT?
Unlike PCT, pseudoporphyria does not have: hypertrichosis, sclerodermoid features, and hyperpigmentation
porphyrin studies will be normal, histology is similar
What medications are known to cause photoonycholysis?
Another form of phototoxic reaction:
- Psoralens and tetracyclines
What medications can cause a slate-grey hyperpigmentation?
Amiodarone, TCAs, and diltiazem
What medications can cause photolichenoid drug reactions?
HCTZ and NSAIDs
What plants can cause phytophotodermatitis?
Also a phototoxic drug reaction basically
Furocoumarin-containing plants: parsley, celery, lime, fig, and yarrow
What is a photoallergic drug reaction?
It is less common, more chronic, and is idiosyncratic (not dose-dependent). It only occurs in sensitized patients (delayed-type hypersensitivity); often persists after the withdrawal of medications and is most commonly caused by topical photoallergans
What is the mechanism of drug photoallergy?
Cell-mediated hypersensitivity; UVR (especially UVA) induces chemical changes in the drug that makes it become a photoallergen; requires sensitization with a 7-10 day incubation period
What is the clinical presentation of a photoallergic reaction?
Itchy, eczematous to lichenoid eruption on sun-exposed areas initially but can spread to non-sun-exposed sites
less likely to be bullous/intense than phototoxic
What is the histology of a photoallergic reaction?
Spongiotic dermatitis, superficial perivascular inflammation, and eosinophils (not sunburn cells/signs of toxic damage)
What are the most common causes of photoallergic reactions?
Oxybenzone (most common)> fragrances (6-methyl coumarin, musk ambrette, and sandalwood oil), NSAIDs (piroximcam and ketoprofen), griseofulvin, quinidine/quinine, sulfonamides, and quinolones
How do you confirm the diagnosis of a photoallergic reaction?
Photopathc testing (using UVA)
What patch test is piroxicam sensitive to?
Thimerisol
What is the most common presentation of drug-induced pigmentary changes?
May be localized or generalized but are often in a photodistribution
What are the mechanisms of drug-induced pigmentary change?
1) drug/drug metabolite deposition 2) induction of melanin production 3) post-inflammatory changes due to photosensitive eurptions
What other cutaneous findings aside from skin can be affected in drug-induced hyperpigmentation?
Melanonychia (longitudinal, diffuse or transverse) and/or oral hyperpigmentation
What are the most common drugs to cause drug-induced hyperpigmentation?
Minocycline, chemotherapeutics, AZT (zidovudine), antimalarials, and heavy metals
What is the time course of drug-induced hyperpigmentation?
Is often reversible but takes a long time (months to years)
What types of medications often cause hypopigmentation?
Most commonly topical medications, but can also be caused by tyrosine kinase inhibitors like imatinib (inhibits c-KIT)
Why do tyrosine kinase inhibitors cause hypopigmentation?
They inhibit c-KIT
What are the most common agents to cause drug-induced hypopigmentation?
Phenols/catechols (including hydroquinone, MBEH, MMEH, various phenol derivatives, p-cresol) 2) sulfhydryls (including methimazole) and; 3) miscellaneous drugs like PPI, corticosteroids, azelaic acid, benzyl alcohol, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mercurials, arsenic, thiotepa, and physostigmine
What agent causes irreversible drug-induced depigmentation?
MBEH (permanent at the local reaction and distant)
Methyl benzyl ester of hydroquinone, used for depigmentation therapy of vitiligo
When does coumadin-induced skin necrosis tend to occur?
2-5 days after drug initiation (when protein C levels are at nadir)
Why does coumadin-induced skin necrosis tend to happen at 2-5 days after starting therapy?
That is when protein C levels are at the nadir
What is the clinical presentation of coumadin-induced skin necrosis?
Painful red plaques that then progress to hemorrhagic bullae, ulcers on fatty areas like the breast, buttocks, and thighs