Corticosteroid-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systematic symptoms successfully treated with a tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor.

Background: Despite recent advances in the treatment of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), the mainstay of treatment involves discontinuing the culprit drugs and administering topical or systemic corticosteroid.

Objective: The clinical use of a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitor was rarely explored in treatment of DRESS.

Methods: We present a case of corticosteroid-induced DRESS that was successfully treated with a TNF-alpha inhibitor without sequalae.

Results: This is the first case report that showed the clinical use of a TNF alpha inhibitor in treating corticosteroids- induced DRESS and immediate hypersensitivity reactions. The HLA-B*5801 was identified as a possible genetic factor associated with a corticosteroid-induced DRESS.

Conclusions: A TNF-alpha inhibitor could be a primary option in treating DRESS, especially in patients with hypersensitivity reaction to corticosteroids.