DRESS offending agents

• A. Vitamin C
• B. Allopurinol
• C. Acetaminophen
• D. Ibuprofen

Answer: (B)

DRESS is a severe drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction that typically begins weeks after starting the offender and can affect multiple organs, with fever, widespread rash, facial swelling, eosinophilia, and potential liver or kidney involvement. Among the common medications listed, allopurinol is the classic agent most strongly associated with DRESS. It’s well documented to trigger this syndrome, especially in patients with risk factors like renal impairment or certain genetic backgrounds, making it the best fit for a question about DRESS offending agents. The other drugs listed (vitamin C, acetaminophen, ibuprofen) are far less linked to DRESS and more commonly cause milder hypersensitivity or other reactions, not the full DRESS picture.