In honor of National DRESS Syndrome Day, July 16, the DRESS Syndrome Foundation is raising awareness about genetic predispositions to developing severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs) like DRESS Syndrome. DRESS is a life-threatening condition that results from taking medications, most commonly antibiotics and anticonvulsants. Researchers are working to reveal the link between our genes and these drugs. The goal is to more effectively treat — and prevent — DRESS Syndrome.
„Worldwide, patients are often prescribed medications without a full understanding as to whether these drugs are safe for them to take,“ explains Tasha Tolliver, Executive Director of the DRESS Syndrome Foundation. „We’re thankful that a global team of dedicated researchers is identifying genetic markers that make people susceptible to developing severe drug reactions. This will be a huge step forward in preventing DRESS Syndrome while helping to manage risk and prevent harm.“
To
date, the medical community has discovered that select drugs carry genetic risk factors for getting DRESS Syndrome and other SCARs. The prevalence of individual genes can vary, depending on the population, like Asian, European, Thai, etc. When patients carry a genetic risk, they have a greater chance of developing DRESS or another SCAR from that specific medication.
Dr. Elizabeth Phillips is a globally renowned severe drug reaction researcher at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She and her team are uncovering genetic markers that can predict a patient’s likelihood for developing SCARs. They recently discovered that the gene HLA-A*32:01 can increase a person’s chance for developing DRESS from the commonly prescribed antibiotic Vancomycin.
Dr. Phillips and her team have also developed genetic tests for Vancomycin. Although relatively cheap and easy to do, the tests are not yet widely implemented. With more widespread use, medical providers could prevent and better diagnose DRESS Syndrome cases. Before prescribing a medication like Vancomycin, they could weigh the benefit of receiving it against someone’s drug reaction risk.
