Severe abacavir hypersensitivity reaction in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection: a case report

Abstract

Abacavir is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor that is used as a component of the antiretroviral treatment regimen in the management of the human immunodeficiency virus for both adults and children. It is efficacious, but its use may be limited by a hypersensitivity reaction linked with the HLA-B*57:01 genotype. HLA-B*57:01 has been reported to be rare in African populations. Because of the nature of its presentation, abacavir hypersensitivity is prone to late diagnosis and treatment, especially in settings where HLA-B*57:01 genotyping is not routinely done.