Peripheral blood eosinophil counts predict the prognosis of drug eruptions.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicated that eosinophils infiltrate the skin during drug eruptions and that counts may become elevated in circulation. However, little is known about the role of eosinophils in the prognosis of patients with drug eruption.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the correlation between circulating eosinophil counts and the prognosis of patients with drug eruption.

METHODS: A total of 113 patients were enrolled in this study. Clinical features, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, and liver function were analyzed in patients and controls.

RESULTS: Our study indicated that eosinophils changed dynamically in different types of drug eruption and that mean eosinophil counts in patients with erythema multiforme-type drug eruption were significantly higher than in patients with other types of eruption. Most patients with eosinophilia had poor liver function, prolonged corticosteroid use, and extended hospitalization, all of which indicate severe disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that circulating eosinophil counts were positively correlated with the severity of the drug eruption. Therefore, corticosteroids may be needed to treat patients with eosinophilia in clinical practice.