Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome in non-leprosy patients: a retrospective study of its incidence in a tertiary referral center in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS) is a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction consisting of fever, hepatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, lymphadenopathy and hemolytic anemia. The incidence of DHS is estimated to be 2% in leprosy patients. Because the incidence of this drug eruption may be different in different ethnicities and diseases, we thought to investigate the incidence of DHS in non-leprosy patients.

METHODS: This is a retrospective study to examine the incidence, clinical manifestations and prognosis of DHS in non-leprosy patients who were given dapsone at the National Taiwan University Hospital between June 2001 and December 2005.

RESULTS: The incidence of DHS among non-leprosy patients was 1.66%. These patients ran a relatively benign course as compared with leprosy patients.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of DHS among non-leprosy patients was compatible to that observed among leprosy patients. DHS in non-leprosy patients runs a favorable course with low morbidity in our study.