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Ulrike Serfling, MD; Fran Rotter, MD; Antoinette F. Hood, MD

Arch Dermatol. 1993;129(6):779-780.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

REPORT OF A CASE

A 34-year-old truck driver was admitted with severe erosions of the mucous membranes and erythema and bullae formation involving approximately 80% of his body surface (Figs 1 and 2), including the palms and soles. Nikolsky's sign was positive. Four days before admission, the patient had symptoms suggesting infection with a respiratory virus, and he took salicylates (Alka-Seltzer Plus) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Three days before admission, he noted erythema on his trunk that rapidly generalized. Blistering developed 24 to 36 hours before admission, followed by oral and ocular mucosal erosion and purulent exudate. There was no history of atopy or drug allergy. A biopsy specimen was taken and is shown in Fig 3.

What is your diagnosis?

DIAGNOSIS:

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

CLINICAL COURSE

The patient's leukocyte count, hematocrit, serum glucose, urinalysis, roentgenogram, and electrocardiograph were within normal limits. Reverse isolation precautions were taken, and therapy was begun with intravenously administered methylprednisone . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md

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