Carbamazepine-induced drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome in a 14-year-old Japanese boy

Epilepsia. 2008 Dec;49(12):2118-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01785.x. Epub 2008 Sep 17.

Abstract

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) is a life-threatening idiosyncratic drug reaction, and an early accurate diagnosis is essential for its treatment. We describe a 14-year-old boy with localization-related epilepsy, who developed severe adverse cutaneous and systemic reactions after 3 weeks of carbamazepine administration. During the course of the clinical symptoms, reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) was proven by detection of the HHV-6 genome in serum and elevation of HHV-6 immunoglobulin G (IgG). He fulfilled the newly established criteria for DIHS. Among eight identified medications that can precipitate DIHS, four are antiepileptic drugs. Establishing a treatment strategy for DIHS is warranted to improve its outcome. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness of DIHS among epileptologists.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects*
  • Carbamazepine / adverse effects*
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Erythema / chemically induced
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Roseolovirus Infections / complications

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Carbamazepine