Clinical and Pathophysiological Aspects of Drug Eruptions Associated with the Treatment of Hansen’s Disease

Abstract

  Although the multidrug therapy (MDT) regimen for Hansen’s disease—comprising dapsone (DDS), rifampicin, and clofazimine—is highly effective, it can occasionally lead to severe drug eruptions. Notably, serious adverse reactions such as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported, posing challenges in balancing therapeutic efficacy with the management of adverse effects. This article reviews the clinical features, pathogenesis, and treatment strategies of severe drug eruptions induced by these agents. Additionally, it highlights emerging immune mechanisms related to post-eradication skin eruptions, thereby reconsidering the diverse pathophysiological processes of drug eruptions and their clinical implications.