CARBAMAZEPINE INDUCED STEVENS-JOHNSON SYNDROME
Dr. R. Venkata Ramudu, Dr. K. Gowtham Reddy, Dr. Anakha Thyag, Dr. T. Mahendra, Dr. S. Parveen*
ABSTRACT
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a mucocutaneous disorder induced by an immunecomplexnmediated
hypersensitivity reaction. Nearly half of cases are caused by a reaction to drugs or appear during viral infections
and malignancies. A very few cases are caused by a bacterial infection (Streptococcus) or Mycoplasma
pneumoniae. Graft versus host disease is another well-established cause, independent of drugs. No specific
etiology has been identified in up to half of cases. We have reported 34-year-old women with SJS induced by
carbamazepine. Reported patient had prodromal symptoms like fever, headache and polyarthralgia, which
preceded mucocutaneous lesions by 3 days. Physical examination on admission revealed a female with a
temperature of 37.2OC and generalized dermatitis with positive Nikolsky sign, large erosions of the palms and
soles, onychomadesis, numerous oral and vermilion borders of the lips erosions. The patient was administered
systemic steroidotherapy and carbamazepine dose was gradually decreased and finally replaced with valproic acid
and valproate sodium. During the hospitalization, temperature normalized and the skin lesions disappeared after 2
weeks of treatment.
Keywords: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, carbamazepine, onychomadesis.
[Full Text Article]
[Download Certificate]
Impact Factor : 8.181 
