Adverse reactions to antituberculosis drugs presenting as DRESS syndrome and acute liver failure

Abstract

Drug induced liver injury (DILI) can be can be triggered by many medications including antituberculosis drugs. We present the case of a 37-year-old woman with a smear- positive pulmonary tuberculosis who started treatment with first-line antituberculosis drugs and 4 weeks later presented jaundice, somnolence and a morbilliform generalized rash with progressive neurologic deterioration which had a fatal outcome. Antituberculosis drugs can cause DILI in 2 to 28% of patients and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome) in 1.2%. Acute liver failure (ALF) can occur in 35% of patients with DILI with an overall mortality of 9.7%. If the ALF is unresponsive to medical treatment, liver transplantation has shown promising results and can avoid progression of complications. DILI can be a serious medical condition in patients receiving antituberculosis drugs. If ALF develops and is unresponsive to medical treatment, liver transplantation should be considered as the treatment of choice.