Hydroxychloroquine-induced fatal toxic epidermal necrolysis complicated by angioinvasive rhizopus

Dermatol Online J. 2014 Nov 15;20(11):13030/qt1q90q0h5.

Abstract

The majority of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) cases are provoked by "high risk" medications (e.g. allopurinol, aromatic anticonvulsants, nevirapine, oxicam non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and sulfonamides). TEN usually occurs 1 to 8 weeks after initial administration of the offending agent, but re-administration can evoke TEN within hours to days. Hydroxychloroquine has rarely been associated with TEN, with one case proving fatal. Herein, we report a case of hydroxychloroquine-induced fatal TEN complicated by angioinvasive Rhizopus. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of angioinvasive Rhizopus in a TEN patient. Initial misidentification of the offending agent causing TEN also serves as an important teaching point worth highlighting.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Blood Vessels / microbiology
  • Facial Dermatoses / microbiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / adverse effects*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy
  • Mucormycosis / complications*
  • Mucormycosis / microbiology
  • Necrosis / microbiology
  • Rhizopus*
  • Scalp Dermatoses / microbiology
  • Skin / pathology
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / etiology*

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Hydroxychloroquine