Acute skin failure due to toxic epidermal necrolysis - Allopurinol induced

Abstract

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a life-threatening, typically drug-induced, mucocutaneous disease. TEN has a high mortality rate, making early diagnosis and treatment of paramount importance. New but experimental diagnostic tools that measure serum granulysin and high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) offer the potential to differentiate early TEN from other, less serious drug reactions, but these tests have not been validated and are not readily available. The mainstay of treatment for TEN involves discontinuation of the offending drug, specialized care in an intensive care unit or burn center, and supportive therapy. The effectiveness of systemic steroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, plasmapheresis, cyclosporine, biologies, and other agents is uncertain.

Keywords

• Apoptosis
• drug eruption
• Erythema multiforme
• Granulysin
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• toxic epidermal necrolysis