Systemic Versus Topical Corticosteroids in the Treatment of DRESS: A Retrospective Cohort Study Followed by a...

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe systemic drug hypersensitivity syndrome with significant risks of mortality and long-term sequelae. Management is challenging; whilst systemic corticosteroids are generally regarded as standard of care, there is a suggestion that topical corticosteroids may be a safe alternative.

We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with DRESS treated with systemic corticosteroids and topical corticosteroids in an academic medical center.

The medical records of patients diagnosed with DRESS at the Singapore General Hospital between 2009 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. A secondary systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to further clarify the outcomes.

Out of 94 patients with DRESS, 41 (44%) were treated with topical corticosteroids and 53 (56%) were treated with systemic corticosteroids. Patients receiving systemic corticosteroids were more likely to develop infective complications (32.1 vs 12.2%, p = 0.02). One-month and 12-month mortality, length of hospital stay, flares of DRESS, and viral reactivation were similar between the two groups. In our meta-analysis (six studies, n = 292), there were no significant differences in mortality or length of stay between patients treated with systemic or topical corticosteroids.

This study was a non-controlled retrospective cohort study and the allocation of treatment may have been influenced by the severity of disease. Results of the secondary meta-analysis are limited by the quality of included studies.

Topical corticosteroids may be a safe and efficacious alternative to systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of mild-to-moderate DRESS.

PROSPERO registration CRD42021285691.