Viral Reactivation in Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions

Viral infections are likely to act as an inducible trigger of cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs) in an HLA-associated manner. The most likely candidate involved in the development of cADRs is the family Herpesviridae. Although reactivation of herpesviruses observed in cADRs is generally regarded as the result, but not the cause, of general immune dysregulation in cADRs, we also discuss the alternative possibility that the reactivation may be a causal factor in the pathogenesis. If so, the implications could open up new areas for potential therapeutic intervention in cADRs.