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Case Reports
. 2014 Jan;4(1):68-72.
doi: 10.5415/apallergy.2014.4.1.68. Epub 2014 Jan 31.

Rapid onset of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis after ingestion of acetaminophen

Eun-Jin Kim  1 , Hyun Lim  1 , So Young Park  1 , Sujeong Kim  1 , Sun-Young Yoon  1 , Yun-Jeong Bae  1 , Hyouk-Soo Kwon  1 , You Sook Cho  1 , Hee-Bom Moon  1 , Tae-Bum Kim  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Rapid onset of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis after ingestion of acetaminophen

Eun-Jin Kim et al. Asia Pac Allergy. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare, but life-threatening, severe cutaneous adverse reactions most frequently caused by exposure to drugs. Several reports have associated the use of acetaminophen with the risk of SJS or TEN. A typical interval from the beginning of drug therapy to the onset of an adverse reaction is 1-3 weeks. A 43-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man developed skin lesions within 3 days after administration of acetaminophen for a 3-day period. Rapid identification of the symptoms of SJS and TEN caused by ingestion of acetaminophen enabled prompt withdrawal of the culprit drug. After administration of intravenous immunoglobulin G, both patients recovered fully and were discharged. These two cases of rapidly developed SJS/TEN after ingestion of acetaminophen highlight the possibility that these complications can develop within only a few days following ingestion of over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen.

Keywords: Acetaminophen; Drug; Hypersensitivity; Stevens-Johnson syndrome; Toxic epidermal necrolysis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Bullous mucocutaneous lesions observed on the patient reported in the first case report. Lesions are shown at the initial (A, B) and advanced (C, D) stages.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bullous mucocutaneous lesions observed on the patient reported in the second case report. Lesions are shown at the initial (A) and advanced (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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