Drug-induced erythroderma in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To explore the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) complicated with drug-induced erythroderma. METHODS: The clinical data of 12 AIDS patients with drug-induced erythroderma in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The general information, offending medications, complications, modified severity-of-illness score for toxic epidermal necrolysis (SCORTEN) scores, and disease outcome spectrums were analyzed. RESULTS: Drug-induced erythroderma was mostly caused by antiviral drugs, antituberculosis drugs, antibiotics, traditional Chinese medicine, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The spectrum of sensitizing drugs was broad, the clinical situation was complex, and infections were common. The affected areas were greater than 40% body surface area in all patients. The modified SCOTERN score averaged 3.01±0.99. All patients were treated with glucocorticoids, and nine patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) pulse therapy at the same time. The average time to effectiveness was 7.08±2.23 days, and the average hospital stay was 17.92±8.46 days. Eleven patients were cured, and one patient died of secondary multiple infections, who had a modified SCORTEN score of 5 points. The mortality rate in this study was 8.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical situation of AIDS patients with drug-induced erythroderma in hospitalized patients is complex and the co-infection rate is high. The use of modified SCORTEN score may objectively and accurately assess the conditions, and the use of glucocorticoid combined with IVIG therapy may improve the prognosis.