Methotrexate-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis: A rare case report and review of literature

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in pediatric patients, and it is characterized by the presence of malignant lymphoblasts within the bone marrow and peripheral blood. The treatment of ALL involves induction, consolidation, reinduction, and maintenance therapy. Consolidation therapy in ALL-Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster 90 protocol involves the use of high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX, 5 g/m2) over 24 h as continuous infusion. The adverse effects due to HDMTX include renal dysfunction in 2%-12% patients, which can lead to increased systemic MTX exposure, leading to further myelosuppression, mucositis, hepatotoxicity, skin toxicity, and, in severe cases, multiorgan failure. Dermatologic toxicity due to MTX includes morbilliform drug rash, photoreactivation, photoenhancement, and skin hyperpigmentation. Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare and possibly fatal reaction which can occur with MTX. Here, we describe a patient with B-cell ALL who developed TEN after administration of HDMTX.