[Severe drug-related skin reaction: toxic epidermal necrolysis caused by carbamazepine].

BACKGROUND

Drug-related skin reactions often present as macular, maculopapular or urticarial rashes. Severe drug eruptions are rare, with life-threatening events occurring in about 4 per one million persons a year. In pediatric patients the estimated incidence of Stevens-Johnsons-syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is even lower. They are often caused by antiepileptic drugs like carbamazepine.

CASE REPORT

A 10 (5)/ (12) year old boy of dark complexion suddenly developed a severe bullous skin disease six weeks after starting carbamazepine therapy due to focal epilepsy. Within few hours a life-threatening systemic inflammatory reaction occurred with subsequent respiratory failure. The clinical course was complicated by bacterial sepsis, bilateral thrombosis of the external iliacal veins and bilateral ocular symblephara. The skin healed with considerable pigmentary disturbance. We report the differential diagnostic and therapeutical features of toxic epidermal necrolysis and give a review of the literature.