A Cautionary Tale of Etanercept Use in Patients With Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

J Burn Care Res. 2021 May 7;42(3):586-589. doi: 10.1093/jbcr/iraa194.

Abstract

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe cutaneous reaction that can be life-threatening. In the United States, there are no established guidelines for the treatment of TEN. Supportive care including fluids and supportive therapies are the current recommendations. Research surrounding TEN involves mostly case studies or small, uncontrolled studies. Recent literature describes the use of tumor necrosis factor blockers in the treatment of TEN with positive results. These case reports describe decreased time to reepithelization, hospital length of stay, and minimal side effects. Conversely, we present three fatalities after the administration of etanercept.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Etanercept / adverse effects*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Lamotrigine / adverse effects
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / etiology*
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / therapy*
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / adverse effects

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Etanercept
  • Lamotrigine