Implications for pharmaceutical care in DRESS syndrome
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-8169.2026v8n4p581-593Keywords:
DRESS syndrome; drug hypersensitivity; pharmacovigilance; pharmaceutical care.Abstract
Objective: to synthesize the evidence on the main drugs implicated in DRESS syndrome and reorganize it into a care flow focused on pharmaceutical practice. Methods: narrative review with an applied clinical perspective, prioritizing systematic reviews, cohorts, multicenter studies, pharmacogenetic investigations, and international consensus documents on drug-induced DRESS. Results: evidence indicates that allopurinol, aromatic anticonvulsants, lamotrigine, vancomycin, sulfonamides, dapsone, and antituberculosis regimens account for a relevant proportion of cases and severe outcomes. The highest-risk window usually occurs between two and eight weeks after treatment initiation, although antibacterials and iodinated contrast agents may trigger earlier presentations. For pharmacists, early recognition of diffuse rash, fever, facial edema, eosinophilia, jaundice, dyspnea, and hepatic or renal deterioration should prompt urgent communication with the care team, chronological medication review, and clear documentation of the suspected reaction. Conclusion: pharmacists play a strategic role in risk stratification, patient education, early treatment monitoring, prevention of re-exposure, and pharmacovigilance, and should incorporate a standardized assessment and referral flow for patients exposed to higher-risk drugs
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Copyright (c) 2026 Cláudio Luiz Ferreira Júnior, Lidiane Lopes Moreira
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