Possible atypical cross-sensitivity between phenytoin and carbamazepine in the anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome

Pharmacotherapy
M H Nashed, L Liao

Abstract

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening reaction that occurs in response to common anticonvulsants in predisposed individuals. It is often characterized by fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, hepatitis, and laboratory abnormalities. Consequently, it often is overlooked or even misdiagnosed by practitioners unfamiliar with AHS. Cross-sensitivity manifests frequently between phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine as an exacerbation of presenting signs and symptoms. We report a case of AHS in a patient whose clinical features changed significantly when switching from phenytoin to carbamazepine. Physicians and pharmacists must become aware of the extreme variability in AHS manifestation so that the offending anticonvulsant regimen can be discontinued in a timely manner.

References

Sep 1, 1978·Archives of Dermatology·J Stanley, V Fallon-Pellicci
Feb 1, 1979·Neurology·W A Parker, C A Shearer
Jan 1, 1991·Neurology·J M MurphyJ B Bell
Apr 1, 1988·Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology·A K SilvermanR C Wong
Dec 1, 1988·The Journal of Clinical Investigation·N H Shear, S P Spielberg
Aug 1, 1980·The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·S H JosephsR H Buckley
Oct 23, 1997·Critical Care Clinics·A R Morkunas, M B Miller
Oct 22, 1998·Neurology·R G SchliengerN H Shear
Nov 3, 1998·Epilepsia·R G Schlienger, N H Shear
Jun 8, 1950·The New England Journal of Medicine·B H CHAIKENJ P SEGAL
May 1, 1995·Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology·C Balachandran

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 13, 2005·Pharmacy World & Science : PWS·Nerea Moyano SierraTeresa Bermejo
Dec 15, 2006·Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology·Cornelia S SeitzAxel Trautmann
May 15, 2002·Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
Oct 8, 2009·Neurobiology of Learning and Memory·Birgit GriesmayrPaul Sauseng
Sep 28, 2007·Pharmacotherapy·KarenBeth H BohanNatalie M Wilson
Jan 19, 2015·La Presse médicale·François Lemaire
Aug 8, 2006·Journal of Korean Medical Science·Cheol-Woo KimDeok-In Kim
Oct 22, 2005·American Journal of Health-system Pharmacy : AJHP : Official Journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists·Alaina Amato, Karen F Marlowe

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Allergy and Asthma

Allergy and asthma are inflammatory disorders that are triggered by the activation of an allergen-specific regulatory t cell. These t cells become activated when allergens are recognized by allergen-presenting cells. Here is the latest research on allergy and asthma.

Related Papers

Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
Olga Bessmertny, Trinh Pham
The British Journal of Dermatology
S E Handfield-JonesD H McGibbon
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved