Received: July 12, 2022 Accepted: July 16, 2022 Published: July 16, 2022
Monoclonal antibodies are a strong, precise, and generally safe class of drugs, which for some conditions are the first new treatment in years. Due the value of supporting additional treatment options for diseases that can be otherwise difficult to manage, many of these antibody treatments are given “fast-track” or “breakthrough therapy” designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which grants them provisional approval before phase III clinical trials are fully reported. Although monoclonal antibodies are usually safe, some patients have experienced life-threatening adverse effects including myositis and encephalitis, in some cases leading to permanent or temporary recalls of the treatment from the market. Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome is a hypersensitivity reaction that can be difficult to diagnose due to its long incubation period and nonspecific presentation. This presentation is primarily intended as an abbreviated guide for practitioners who may be prescribing or administering these treatments. We searched PubMed using a string of symptoms consistent with DRESS syndrome alongside monoclonal antibodies approved by the FDA from 2015 to 2019. We then excluded studies reporting reactivation of nonherpetic infection, immunodeficiency-related infection, or injection/infusion site reactions. We identified two cases of DRESS syndrome that were diagnosed as DRESS syndrome, both of which were associated with treatment with daclizumab, which was withdrawn from the market in 2018 after it was found to be associated with autoimmune encephalitis. Drug-induced hypersensitivity dermatitis was reported in one patient following treatment with nivolumab. Combination treatment with ipilimumab and either nivolumab produced maculopapular rash and bullae in one patient. Combination treatment with ipilimumab and durvalumab produced lichenoid dermatitis and blisters in one patient. Limitations in the diagnostic reliability of DRESS syndrome as a clinical entity and lack of negative clinical trial reporting suggest enhanced vigilance on the part of clinicians and regulators may be warranted.