This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Granulocytic Leukopenia as a Prognostic Indicator

Elizabeth Deering Westly, MD; Harry L. Wechsler, MD

Arch Dermatol. 1984;120(6):721-726.

Abstract
• Drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis is a disease of severe morbidity and high mortality. In the ten cases reported herein, therapeutic measures, including antibiotics, closed mechanical ventilation, maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance, and management in special burn-care units, failed to alter a poor prognosis. The administration of corticosteroids was of no apparent benefit and may have been detrimental. Young age seemed to have a favorable influence on survival. There developed a pattern of leukopenia due to severe granulocytopenia that proved to be of prognostic importance. Persistence of the granulocytopenia portended a fatal outcome, whereas recovery of the granulocyte count to normal indicated, overall, a more favorable trend. The cause of the granulocytopenia could not be determined.

(Arch Dermatol 1984;120:721-726)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Dermatology, Western Pennsylvania Hospital and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Nov 11, 1983.

Reprint requests to Dermatological Associates PA, 502 Fifth Ave, McKeesport, PA 15132 (Dr Wechsler).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Hypopharyngeal Stenosis and Dysphagia Complicating Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Barrera et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;124:1375-1376.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Severe Adverse Cutaneous Reactions to Drugs
Roujeau and Stern
NEJM 1994;331:1272-1285.
FULL TEXT  

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: Unmuddying the Waters
Goldstein et al.
Arch Dermatol 1987;123:1153-1156.
ABSTRACT  

Treatment of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: Creteil's Experience
Revuz et al.
Arch Dermatol 1987;123:1156-1158.
ABSTRACT  

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: Clinical Findings and Prognosis Factors in 87 Patients
Revuz et al.
Arch Dermatol 1987;123:1160-1165.
ABSTRACT  

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Vermeer and Claas
Arch Dermatol 1985;121:715-716.
ABSTRACT  

Granulocytes, Lymphocytes, and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Roujeau et al.
Arch Dermatol 1985;121:305-305.
ABSTRACT  

Granulocytes, Lymphocytes, and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Myskowski and Ainspan
Arch Dermatol 1985;121:306-306.
ABSTRACT  

Granulocytes, Lymphocytes, and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Siegel
Arch Dermatol 1985;121:305-306.
ABSTRACT  

Granulocytes, Lymphocytes, and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Jones and Surratt
Arch Dermatol 1985;121:306-306.
ABSTRACT  

Granulocytes, Lymphocytes, and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis-Reply
Westly and Wechsler
Arch Dermatol 1985;121:306-307.
ABSTRACT