Toxic epidermal necrolysis and clarithromycin.

Abstract

Toxic epidermal necrolysis almost always occurs after taking a medication. Despite spectacular clinical signs, it is mainly diagnosed with pathologic techniques. The identification of a drug as the cause for the immune related cytotoxic reaction can be difficult if the molecule is not generally known to be a classical cause of this reaction. The present study describes a female patient who rapidly developed a severe bullous skin disease after taking clarithromycin for tonsillitis. The case illustrates the process involved in attributing causality to a molecule using an established imputability assessment framework.

• Authors: Nadia Khaldi, Alain Miras, Sophie Gromb
• Journal: The Canadian journal of clinical pharmacology = Journal canadien de pharmacologie clinique (Can J Clin Pharmacol) Vol. 12 Issue 3 Pg. e264-8 ( 2005) ISSN: 1710-6222 [Electronic] Canada
• PMID: 16281332 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Clarithromycin

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (adverse effects)
• Clarithromycin (adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (etiology, physiopathology)