Introduction: Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs) are common. There are only few studies on the incidence of cADRs in Malaysia. Objective: To determine the incidence, clinical features and risk factors of cADRs among hospitalized patients. Methods:A prospective study was conducted among medical inpatients from July to December 2014. Results: A total of 43 cADRs were seen among 11 017 inpatients, yielding an incidence rate of 0.4%. cADR accounted for hospitalization in 26 patients. Previous history of cADR was present in 14 patients, with 50% exposed to the same drug taken previously. Potentially lifethreatening severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR), namely drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS: 14 cases) and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS/TEN: 6 cases) comprise almost 50% of cADRs. The commonest culprit drug group was antibiotics (37.2%), followed by anticonvulsants (18.6%). Cotrimoxazole, phenytoin and rifampicin were the main causative drugs for DRESS. Anticonvulsants were most frequently implicated in SJS/TEN (66.7%). Most cases had “probable” causality relationship with suspected drug (69.8%). The majority of cases were of moderate severity (65.1%), while 18.6% had severe reaction with 1 death recorded. Most cases were not preventable (76.7%). Older age (> 60 years) and mucosal involvement were significantly associated with a more severe reaction. Conclusion: The incidence of cADRs was 0.4%, with most cases classified as moderate severity and not preventable. The commonest reaction pattern was DRESS, while the main culprit drug group was antibiotics. Older age and mucosal membrane involvement predicts a severe drug reaction.

Background: Cutaneous vasculitis is common, yet the riskfactors for its chronicity have not been established.Objective: To describe the clinical spectrum and identify riskfactors for chronicity of cutaneous vasculitis.Methods: Retrospective data analysis of 275 patientsdiagnosed with cutaneous vasculitis from January 2008 toDecember 2013.Results: The mean age was 33.7 (±17.89) years, with femalepredominance. The majority of patients were Malays (67.3%).Skin biopsy was performed in 110 (40%) patients. Thecommonest sign was palpable purpura (30.6%). Theaetiology remained elusive in 51.3% of patients. Commonidentifiable causes include infection (19.7%) and connectivetissue disease (10.2%). Extracutaneous features were notedin 46.5% of patients. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate andantinuclear antibody were raised in 124 of 170 and 27 of 175patients with documented results respectively. Cutaneousvasculitis was the presenting symptom in seven patientswith newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus. AntiStreptolysin O Titre was positive in 82 of 156 patients withdocumented results. Despite antibiotics, 31.7% of them hadchronic lesions. Prednisolone alone was used in 20% ofpatients while 16.4% needed steroid-sparing agents. Mostpatients who needed systemic therapy (62%) hadunidentifiable aetiology. Among the 155 patients whoremained under follow up, 36.4% had chronic disease, onepatient succumbed due to septicaemia, and the rest fullyrecovered within three months. The presence of ulcerativelesion was significantly associated with developing chronicvasculitis (p=0.003).Conclusion: The clinical spectrum of cutaneous vasculitis inour population was similar to other studies. Ulcerativelesion predicts a chronic outcome

The aim of this Biologic Advisory Group (BAG) Malaysia consensus guideline is to provide clinicians managing cutaneous diseases with biologics relevant parameters to consider prior to initiating or stopping or continuing any biologic treatment in the current landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides reviewing the medical literatures on COVID-19 and evidences related to other human coronavirus or influenza, expert opinions and clinical experiences are shared and debated in formulation of this biologic consensus guideline.