From facial pain to toxic epidermal necrolysis: a rare complication of carbamazepine usage
Ahmadi, M.; van Hoeven, L.; Bokhoven, K.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 161: D1895
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 29171374 Document Number: 694835
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare disease that is characterised by epidermal loss, often as a result of medication use - particularly sulfonamides and anti-epileptics. People of South-East Asian descent are at increased risk of developing TEN since they may carry the HLA-B*1502 allele. A 61-year-old female of Indonesian descent developed TEN due to carbamazepine use, resulting in admission to the intensive care department of a specialised burn centre in the Netherlands. She was successfully treated with high-dose prednisone and local therapy for the skin disorder. The US Food and Drug Administration advises screening of patients of South-East Asian descent for HLA-B*1502 prior to initiation of treatment with TEN-related medication. In the Netherlands, screening for this allele is currently not mandatory.