Addressing Drug-Related SCARs

By Archontia Palaiologou, DDS, MS, Phillip Crum, DDS, Jessica Owens, DMD
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) to drugs occur rarely, but can be life-threatening. Approximately 3% to 7% of all hospital admissions or referrals from primary care physicians are made due to adverse drug reactions of the skin.1,2 SCARs to drugs mainly consist of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). Each is categorized as a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, although the immune mechanisms differ between the presentations.
* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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