Toxic epidermal necrolysis induced by COVID-19

Dermatol Reports. 2024 Jan 30;16(4):9853. doi: 10.4081/dr.2024.9853. eCollection 2024 Nov 21.

Abstract

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a life-threatening acute mucocutaneous syndrome. It is characterized by keratinocyte necrosis and apoptosis, which affect more than 30% of the body's surface. TEN is most commonly due to an altered immunological response to specific drugs, infections, and malignancies, or it can be idiopathic. The combination of TEN and COVID-19 can have a fatal outcome if not recognized and promptly treated. Therefore, fast reporting of such cases will draw doctors' attention to quick and right intervention. In this article, we present a 66-year-old patient with a clinical presentation of toxic epidermal necrolysis along with a coexisting COVID-19 infection. To our knowledge, this is the first case of TEN in a patient diagnosed with SARS CoV-2 infection in Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS CoV-2; Saudi Arabia; toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Publication types

  • Case Reports