DRESS Syndrome - Rare but Potentially Fatal Drug Reaction

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare phenomenon. Review of the literature revealed 2425 DRESS syndrome case reports and only 175 case reports secondary to allopurinol, with this being the first published report of DRESS Syndrome in the state of Hawai'i. This case report describes a Han-Chinese patient diagnosed with DRESS syndrome secondary to allopurinol use, which has been reported to be a high-risk group for allopurinol-related drug reactions. Given Hawaii's unique patient population, compromised of a large Chinese and mixed-race population, it is important to maintain a higher level of suspicion when prescribing allopurinol.