Alternative procedure to allow continuation of dapsone therapy despite serious adverse reaction in a case of dapsone-sensitive erythema elevatum diutinum

Dermatology. 2012;224(2):115-9. doi: 10.1159/000337424. Epub 2012 Apr 12.

Abstract

Dapsone has potent anti-inflammatory effects and remains an effective therapy in a variety of skin disorders: cutaneous vasculitis, neutrophilic dermatoses and blistering disorders. However it may cause a severe idiosyncratic reaction compatible with drug-induced DRESS (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) leading to the discontinuation of the treatment despite its effectiveness. We report a 68-year-old woman who was successfully treated with dapsone for erythema elevatum diutinum. However she developed a hypersensitivity syndrome compatible with DRESS with fever, skin rash and acute hepatitis confirmed in vitro by the presence of circulating dapsone- specific T cells. Dapsone therapy was suspended, leading to a relapse of erythema elevatum diutinum. While alternative therapies were totally ineffective in our patient to improve her skin condition, we proposed a tolerance induction protocol to dapsone with excellent results.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Infective Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Dapsone / adverse effects*
  • Dapsone / therapeutic use
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Dapsone

Supplementary concepts

  • Erythema elevatum diutinum