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A case of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) without a typical precipitant

David WJ Griffin, Genevieve E Martin, Catriona McLean, Allen C Cheng and Michelle L Giles
Med J Aust 2020; 212 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50519
Published online: 20 April 2020

An 80‐year‐old man presented with 2 days of fever and a widespread, itchy, non‐blanching, erythematous rash involving more than 50% of body surface area over arms, legs, abdomen, back and palms, with sparing of the face and soles of feet (Box 1). He had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (treated with sitaglipin 100 mg and metformin 1000 mg modified release daily), hypertension (perindopril arginine 2.5 mg daily), vitamin D deficiency (weekly colecalciferol 125 μg oral) and pernicious anaemia.


  • 1 Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2 Monash University, Melbourne, VIC


Correspondence: g.martin@alfred.org.au

Acknowledgements: 

We acknowledge the input of Jason Trubiano and Nigel Crawford for valuable discussions in the management of this case.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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