Toxic epidermal necrolysis following combination of methotrexate and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole
Authors: Yang Chih‐hsun , Yang Lih‐Jen , Jaing Tang‐Her , Chan Heng‐Leong 
Published: March 2003

A 15‐year‐old boy with T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (FAB L1), diagnosed in 1995, received combination chemotherapy consisting of 6 weeks of induction (vincristine, epirubicin, L‐asparaginase, prednisolone) and 2 weeks of consolidation (cytosine arabinosides, etoposide). After achieving remission, for further maintenance of remission, he was treated with 14 cycles of intensive chemotherapy consisting of 6‐MP, 10 mg/kg orally on the first 4 days, and cyclophosphamide, 1200 mg/m2, vincristine, 1.5 mg/m2, epirubicin, 15 mg/m2, and cytosine arabinoside, 40 mg/m2, intravenously on days 4, 11, 39, and 40, respectively. On day 18 of each cycle, he received intravenous methotrexate (MTX) infusion in a total dose of 150 mg/m2 plus oral leucovorin (30 mg/m2 ) rescue 36 h after starting MTX therapy. In addition, oral trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole was given regularly to prevent Pneumocystis carinii infection.

The patient achieved remission during the first course of treatment, but 8 months later the disease relapsed. He then received four doses of MTX (800 mg intravenously) plus leucovorin rescue in the following 4 months. During the last MTX therapy, small hemorrhagic bullae were found on the lateral side of the right ankle, but subsided after a few days.

Due to partial remission of the disease, he was admitted again in January 1999 for high‐dose MTX therapy. An initial hemogram on admission revealed hemoglobin 7.2 g/dL, white cell count 15,200/mm3, platelet count 153/mm3, blood creatinine 0.5 mg/dL, and alanine leucine aminotransferase (ALT) 20 U/L. He received 8500 mg of MTX (5000 mg/m2 ) as a continuous intravenous infusion for 24 h. Thirty‐six hours after the start of MTX infusion, leucovorin (30 mg, intravenous) rescue was initiated every 6 h for 3 days. Another preventive measure to cover MTX toxicity included aggressive intravenous fluid replacement (4 L/m2/day) and the addition of 25 meq/L sodium bicarbonate to the intravenous fluid to alkalinize the urine. Concurrent medication included 6‐MP (50 mg) once daily and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (120 mg, 600 mg) twice daily every other day. Plasma MTX levels were 52.36 μmol/L 24 h after MTX infusion, 1.87 μmol/L after 48 h, 0.57 μmol/L after 72 h, and 0.41 μmol/L after 96 h. These indicated delayed MTX plasma clearance. The blood creatinine level was mildly elevated from 0.5 mg/dL to 0.7 mg/dL. Thirty‐six hours after the administration of MTX, the patient developed an erythematous painful swelling on the right middle finger. The erythema, with subsequent large bulla formation, progressed to all the fingers, toes, palms, and the soles of the feet. Some erythematous to hemorrhagic papules also appeared on the bilateral elbows. Subsequently, diffuse tender erythema with extensive erosions and focal tiny pustules developed on the back, abdomen, proximal extremities, and face (
Fig. 1a,b). A positive Nikolsky's sign was also present. A biopsy specimen of the right dorsal hand lesion revealed parakeratosis, detached acanthotic epidermis with scattered necrotic keratinocytes, dyskeratotic cells and nuclear atypia, neutrophilic exocytosis, and many neutrophils in the papillary dermis (
Fig. 2). The skin condition deteriorated rapidly. Toxic epidermal necrolysis‐like lesions involved 90% of the total body surface on the fifth day after MTX infusion. Mucositis, diarrhea, involuntary tremor, fever, and chills were noted. The patient was then sent to the burn unit for intensive skin care. Ten days after MTX therapy, profound agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia (white cell count 100/mm3, platelets 14,000/mm3, and hemoglobin 5.6 g/dL) were found. The patient was then started on granulocyte colony stimulation factor (G‐CSF, 5 μg/kg/day), but his general condition deteriorated rapidly and he died 6 days later due to septic shock and multiple organ failure.

(a) Diffuse tender erythema on the back, abdomen, proximal extremities, and face. (b) Hemorrhagic pustules and bullae on the dorsal part of the hand

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Biopsy specimen showing lichenoid tissue reaction, including parakeratosis, detached acanthotic epidermis with scattered necrotic keratinocytes, dyskeratotic cells, nuclear atypia, and many neutrophils in the papillary dermis

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