Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery
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East Asians exposed to the urate-lowering drug allopurinol have a predilection for severe cutaneous drug reactions such as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome or drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN). Screening is recommended in patients of East Asian descent for the presence of HLA-B*58:01 prior to allopurinol initiation to avoid these complications. Utilization rates of the HLA-B*58:01 predictive screening test within the Greater Vancouver area, which has a population composed of 40.1% people of East Asian descent, are unknown. ⋯ We continue to observe cases of severe cutaneous drug reactions among high-risk individuals due to allopurinol exposure. The HLA-B*58:01 screening test for allopurinol hypersensitivity is underutilized in our geographic area.