Nevirapine induced toxic epidermal necrolysis and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive patient

Abstract

Nevirapine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) is one of the important components of highly active antiretroviral therapy. It is sometimes associated with life-threatening adverse reactions. Here we report one such patient who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), leucopenia and hepatotoxicity secondary to intake of nevirapine. This patient was also diagnosed to have non-Hodgkin lymphoma grade IV of anal canal for which he was given radiotherapy and two cycles of chemotherapy. The treating physicians should carefully monitor patients on NNRTI-based antiretroviral therapy so that fatalities due to adverse drug reactions can be prevented with timely intervention.

Keywords

• Hepatotoxicity
• leucopenia
• nevirapine
• non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• toxic epidermal necrolysis