Use of infliximab in toxic epidermal necrolysis: a still opened challenge.

Abstract

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), also known as Lyell syndrome, is a potential life-threatening muco-cutaneous disease with important systemic implications. It affects the skin and mucous membranes, with involvement of more than 30% of body surface and it is mostly caused by drugs. Although the pathogenesis is not fully elucidated, it is probably linked to the inability to detoxicate reactive metabolites of drugs, to genetic susceptibility and to immune factors leading to cellular apoptosis. Currently, there are no randomized control trials and stardardized therapeutical approaches for the management of Lyell syndrome; therefore controversial clinical responses to the most common used drug in TEN make it difficult for the clinical-therapeutic approach. The authors reported their experience on three patients affected by Lyell syndrome treated with infliximab.

• Authors: G Ganzetti, A Campanati, O Simonetti, K Giuliodori, M Giangiacomi, G Lemme, A Offidani
• Journal: Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia : organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia (G Ital Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 150 Issue 4 Pg. 467-71 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1827-1820 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 25394212 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Dermatologic Agents
• Infliximab

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Dermatologic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Infliximab (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mucous Membrane (pathology)
• Skin (pathology)
• Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (drug therapy, pathology)
• Treatment Outcome