HLA HYPERSENSITIVITY TO ALLOPURINOL (B58:01)

PRESENCE OF HLA B*58:01 IS ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERSENSITIVITY TO ALLOPURINOL THERAPY. ALLOPURINOL IS WIDELY USED FOR HYPERURICEMIA RELATED DISEASES SUCH AS GOUT, LESCH- NYHAN SYNDROME AND RECURRENT URATE KIDNEY STONES. SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE AT RISK OF DEVELOPING ALLOPURINOL HYPERSENSITIVITY SYNDROME WHICH INCLUDES TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS (TEN) OR STEVENS- JOHNSON SYNDROME (SJS) AND ALSO FEATURES OF EOSINOPHILIA, VASCULITIS AND MAJOR END ORGAN DISEASE. PATIENTS OF HAN CHINESE OR THAI DESCENT ARE AT A VERY HIGH RISK FOR DEVELOPING ALLOPURINOL HYPERSENSITIVITY SYNDROME. THERAPY SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED IMMEDIATELY AND PERMANENTLY IF ALLOPURINOL HYPERSENSITIVITY SYNDROME DEVELOPS.