Successful dexamethasone pulse therapy in a toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) patient featuring recurrent TEN to oxazepam

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2001 Nov;26(8):654-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2230.2001.00910.x.

Abstract

A 62-year-old female patient is described who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) after medication with phenytoin and oxazepam. Initially phenytoin was discontinued and dexamethasone pulse therapy (1.5 mg/kg on 3 consecutive days) was initiated on the tenth day of skin disease. This resulted in clinical improvement. Histologically re-epithelialization could be demonstrated below the necrotic epidermis. However, on the eighteenth day of skin disease (10 days after discontinuation of phenytoin and 8 days after the start of dexamethasone pulse therapy), a histologically verified rebound-TEN developed with a detachment of 95%. Oxazepam was stopped and a second series of dexamethasone pulse therapy was given. Re-epithelialization began within 24 h of the start of the second series of dexamethasone pulse therapy, and continued to almost complete recovery within 1 week.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Epidermis / drug effects
  • Epidermis / pathology
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / adverse effects*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxazepam / adverse effects*
  • Phenytoin / therapeutic use
  • Pulse Therapy, Drug
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / etiology*
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / pathology

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Phenytoin
  • Oxazepam
  • Dexamethasone