Search

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this retrospective study was to verify whether peripheral eosinophilia (PE) may be a marker of severity for adverse cutaneous drug reactions (ACDR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated sixty-three patients diagnosed as adverse cutaneous drug reactions for PE. All the patients underwent blood tests at baseline visit. Only patients that showed a very likely connection between ACDR and the suspected causative drug were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: We found that 11 out of 63 patients (17%) presented PE for values ≥ 0.6 x 109 cells/l or for a percentage of total leukocytes ≥ 6%. These patients with PE showed a longer recovery time, more severe cutaneous reactions and needed a systemic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: These outcomes prompt us to believe that peripheral eosinophilia may be an index of severity for adverse cutaneous drug reactions. Therefore, we suggest physicians to always detect the presence of peripheral eosinophilia in order to not underestimate the reaction and to promptly start an appropriate therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]