Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to Anti-tuberculosis Drugs in Korean Patients

PURPOSE: Anti-tuberculosis drugs (ATDs) can cause severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Underlying tuberculous infection and co-administration of multiple drugs may contribute to the complexity of ATD-related SCARs. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of ATD-related SCARs. METHODS: We analyzed ATD-related SCAR cases in 2010-2015, selected from a web-based Database of the Korean Registry of SCAR. RESULTS: = 0.003, respectively). ATDs were challenged in 14 cases. The ATD associated most often with SCAR cases was rifampin (81.8%), followed by isoniazid (66.7%), ethambutol (50.0%), pyrazinamide (33.3%). Six patients (42.9%) had hypersensitivity reactions to 2 or more drugs. CONCLUSIONS: DRESS was more common among the ATD-related SCAR cases. Although treatment with most ATDs carries the risk of SCAR development, the use of rifampin was most frequently involved in the occurrence of SCARs. Multiple hypersensitivity was frequently observed in ATD-related SCARs.