Treatment of drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell’s syndrome) with intravenous human immunoglobulins

in Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries (2001), 27(6), 652-655

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare drug-induced life-threatening disease. Currently, the disease is only treated by supportive and antiseptic measures. Quite recently intravenous immunoglobulins ... [more ▼]

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare drug-induced life-threatening disease. Currently, the disease is only treated by supportive and antiseptic measures. Quite recently intravenous immunoglobulins (IG) were shown to be a promising TEN treatment. The rationale for their use is based on the fact that keratinocyte apoptosis in TEN involves the CD95 (APO-1/Fas) cell surface receptor–ligand system. We successfully treated a TEN patient with high dose of intravenous IG. The clinical recovery appeared exceptionally rapid. Immunohistochemistry showed that the IG action probably developed on the CD95 receptor–ligand system at the keratinocytes surface. [less ▲]