Hair loss after drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS): A multicentric retrospective case series

• Published in: Journal of dermatology Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 814 - 819
• Main Authors: Lee, Ji Won, Yu, Da‐Ae, Cho, Soyun, Youn, Sang Woong, Kwon, Ohsang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2023
• Subjects: Alopecia; alopecia areata; Baldness; Corticosteroids; Dietary supplements; drug eruptions; drug hypersensitivity syndrome; drug‐related side effects and adverse reactions; Eosinophilia; Hair; Minoxidil; Steroids; drug eruptions; alopecia; alopecia areata; drug-related side effects and adverse reactions; drug hypersensitivity syndrome
• ISSN: 0385-2407; 1346-8138
• DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.16715

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe cutaneous drug adverse reaction characterized by various cutaneous and systemic manifestations. However, reports on the various patterns of alopecia after DRESS are lacking. Thus, we aimed to describe cases of alopecia after DRESS and review the literature. This multicentric retrospective study reviewed the records of 182 patients diagnosed with DRESS from 2009 to 2021; of these, 10 who had alopecia after DRESS were included. Patients were diagnosed with permanent alopecia (n = 4), telogen effluvium (n = 5), and alopecia areata (n = 1), and were treated with topical minoxidil or alfatradiol (6; 60%), topical corticosteroids (3; 30%), dietary supplements (6; 60%), systemic corticosteroids (1; 10%), and intralesional corticosteroid injection (2; 20%). Although patients with permanent alopecia did not show hair regrowth after 6 months, those with telogen effluvium and alopecia areata experienced marked clinical improvement within 6 months. Various types of alopecia can persist over an extended period, even after the resolution of an acute episode of DRESS.