Cyclosporine Vs Steroids in DRESS

Current treatments for patients with drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) include supportive care, steroids, cyclosporine and to a lesser extent, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Regarding IVIG, a recent case series suggests no improved benefit in adults. No randomized controlled trial (RCT) exists in comparing these treatments and all available literature comes in the form of case reports and case series. These two treatments are considered standard of care and this trial seeks only to compare outcomes of DRESS between these two therapies. No additional labs, therapies or procedures will be used apart from those that are routinely done for patients with this diagnosis.

This will be a pilot study to determine efficacy of the two therapies with particular endpoints in mind so that the investigators can study the safety of these two therapies in patients with DRESS. Hopefully, this study will allow the investigators to better power a full prospective trial in the future.

This is a potentially life-threatening severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR) with significant potential morbidity. Data suggests a potential benefit for adults with DRESS using either steroids or cyclosporine but the investigators are seeking a comparison of efficacy of these two therapies. The study population will include adults with a Registry of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reaction (RegiSCAR) score of greater than 4 (i.e. a likely diagnosis of DRESS). The investigators will exclude patients with sepsis, active Hepatitis B or C, active tuberculosis, a documented allergy to steroids or cyclosporine, and patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 (unless on dialysis in which case the participants will be included).

Participants will be randomized using a randomization protocol at all sites. Primary endpoints will include percentage of participants with complete or near complete resolution of organ involvement as well as erythema resolution at day 7 and day 30.

Secondary endpoints will be:

• fever presence, resolution of facial edema, resolution of pruritus, lymphadenopathy, eosinophil count at days 7 and 30
• days of hospitalization
• mortality at days 7, 30 and 90
• viral reactivation at days 30, 60 and 90
• those with autoimmune development by day 30 and day 90
• 30 day re-admission rate.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults with a RegiSCAR score of greater than 4 (i.e a likely diagnosis of DRESS)

Exclusion criteria

• Active sepsis
• Active hepatitis B or C
• Active tuberculosis
• Documented allergy to steroids or cyclosporine
• Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 (unless on dialysis, in which case they will be included)