Case of toxic epidermal necrolysis induced by allopurinol with human herpesvirus-6 reactivation

Abstract

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) or drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) (1, 2) are severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Recently, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) reactivation has been observed frequently in patients with DIHS/DRESS, but not in SJS/TEN (3-5). Therefore, it has been suggested that HHV-6 is closely related to the pathogenesis of DIHS, but not to that of SJS/TEN (6, 7). We report here a case of TEN induced by allopurinol, accompanied by HHV-6 reactivation. © 2013 Acta Dermato-Venereologica.