Phenytoin-induced linear IgA dermatosis mimicking toxic epidermal necrolysis

Eosinophil-rich linear IgA bullous dermatosis induced by mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine

We present a case of eosinophil-rich linear IgA bullous disease (LABD) following the administration of a messenger RNA COVID-19 booster vaccine. A 66-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 3-week history of a pruritic blistering rash characterized by fluid-filled bullae and multiple annular and polycyclic plaques. He was initially diagnosed with bullous pemphigoid based on a biopsy showing a subepidermal blister with numerous eosinophils. However, direct immunofluorescence studies showed linear IgA and IgM deposition along the basement membrane zone with no immunoreactivity for C3 or IgG. Additionally, indirect immunofluorescence was positive for IgA basement membrane zone antibody. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with LABD and initiated on dapsone therapy with resolution of his lesions at 3-month follow-up. This case illustrates the growing number of autoimmune blistering adverse cutaneous reactions from vaccination. Dermatopathologists should be aware that features of autoimmune blistering diseases can overlap and may not be distinguishable based on these histopathological findings alone. Confirmation with direct immunofluorescence and/or serological studies may be necessary for accurate diagnosis.

Drug-Induced Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis

We report the case of a 69-year-old Japanese woman with multiple blistering lesions covering almost her whole body. Linear IgA and C3 depositions were seen at the basement membrane zone on direct immunofluorescence (IF). Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is one of the autoimmune diseases resulting in subepidermal blisters. It is clinically similar to bullous pemphigoid and IF is required to distinguish the two diseases. In this case, the blistering lesions appeared after vancomycin treatment. This drug was strongly suspected as a cause of LABD in light of the clinical course of the patient even though a drug-lymphocyte stimulating test was negative. Among the various implicated causative drugs, vancomycin is the most commonly associated with LABD.

Linear IgA bullous disease presenting as toxic epidermal necrolysis: a case report and review of the literature

A 91-year-old female presented with widespread skin sloughing and bullae clinically mimicking toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). The patient was on multiple antibiotics, including vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam. Histopathology and direct immunofluorescence were consistent with a diagnosis of linear IgA bullous disease (LABD). In a PubMed review of the literature from 1975 to the present, there have been 15 cases of LABD presenting as TEN clinically and with characteristic linear IgA deposits on direct immunofluorescence studies. Vancomycin and phenytoin were the most commonly implicated medications. Twelve patients saw a resolution or healing of skin lesions after discontinuation of the implicated medication. There were, however, 5 patients who died of complications related to their comorbidities. It is important to include LABD in the differential diagnosis when evaluating patients who clinically present with TEN.

Sulfasalazine-induced linear immunoglobulin A bullous dermatosis with DRESS

Linear immunoglobulin (Ig) A dermatosis is an immune-mediated bullous disease characterized by linear deposits of IgA along the basal membrane. While usually idiopathic, it can occasionally be induced by drug exposure. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis being treated with sulfasalazine who developed linear IgA dermatosis and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). The dermatosis and associated symptoms resolved following withdrawal of the drug and treatment with systemic corticosteroids for 2 months. This is the first report of sulfasalazine-induced linear IgA dermatosis in association with DRESS and we believe that sulfasalazine should be added to the list of drugs that can cause linear IgA dermatosis.

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis: report of five cases in Chile

BACKGROUND

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is an acquired autoimmune sub-epidermal vesiculobullous disease characterized by continuous linear IgA deposit on the basement membrane zone, as visualized on direct immunofluorescence microscopy. LABD can affect both adults and children. The disease is very uncommon, with a still unknown incidence in the South American population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All confirmed cases of LABD by histological and immunofluorescence in our hospital were studied.

RESULTS

The confirmed cases were three females and two males, aged from 8 to 87 years. Precipitant events associated with LABD were drug consumption (non-steroid inflammatory agents in two cases) and ulcerative colitis (one case). Most of our patients were treated with dapsone, resulting in remission.

DISCUSSION

Our series confirms the heterogeneous clinical features of this uncommon disease in concordance with a larger series of patients reported in the literature.

[Verapamil-induced linear IgA disease mimicking toxic epidermal necrolysis]

BACKGROUND

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis is a rare auto-immune bullous dermatitis characterized by linear IgA deposits in the basal membrane zone. Clinical diagnosis may be difficult due to the various clinical presentations mimicking bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, erythema multiforme or toxic epidermal necrolysis. Linear IgA may be idiopathic or due to drugs, particularly vancomycin.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We describe a 91-year-old woman treated with verapamil for coronary disease who developed an eruption presenting as a toxic epidermal necrolysis, although the diagnosis was amended after direct immunofluorescence revealed IgA deposits in the basal membrane zone.

DISCUSSION

Ours appears to be the first reported case of verapamil-induced linear IgA bullous dermatosis.

Vancomycin-induced Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is a rare autoimmune bullous disease that can either occur without any apparent cause or be induced by the administration of certain drugs, the most common of which is vancomycin. We present a case of a 45-year-old woman who was diagnosed with vancomycin-induced LABD by the presence of a characteristic linear band of IgA along the basement membrane zone on direct immunofluorescence microscopy. Our patient showed complete recovery after a 2-week period during which vancomycin administration was discontinued.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis-like acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and the spectrum of the acute syndrome of apoptotic pan-epidermolysis (ASAP): a case report, concept review and proposal for new classification of lupus erythematosus vesiculobullous skin lesions

The acute clinical syndrome of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is currently thought to be a distinct clinical-pathological entity typically resulting from drug hypersensitivity. We describe an adult woman who experienced a fulminate pattern of apoptotic epidermal cell injury following tanning bed exposure while taking naproxen that resulted in a clinical presentation having combined features of drug-induced TEN and an infrequently recognized form of bullous cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE). This case calls attention to the fact that TEN-like injury can occasionally be seen in settings other than drug hypersensitivity (e.g., LE, acute graft versus host disease) and illustrates the need for a unifying concept in this area. We therefore propose the term 'Acute Syndrome of Apoptotic Pan-Epidermolysis (ASAP)' to designate a clinical syndrome that is characterized by life-threatening acute and massive cleavage of the epidermis resulting from hyperacute apoptotic injury of the epidermis. We also review vesiculobullous skin disorders that can be encountered in LE patients and suggest a new classification scheme for such lesions.

Impact of phenytoin therapy on the skin and skin disease

Phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin; Dilantin), ALZA Corp.) is a highly effective and widely prescribed anticonvulsant agent used in the treatment of focal and tonic clonic generalised seizures. The side effects of phenytoin can occassionally engender significant morbidity. Phenytoin can induce generalised eruptions that include: a maculopapular exanthem, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, generalised exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, vasculitis and fixed drug eruptions. Phenytoin is linked to a hypersensitivity syndrome that manifests with fever, rash and lymphadenopathy. Patients receiving phenytoin may develop pseudolymphoma or, rarely, malignant lymphoma and mycosis fungoides-like lesions. Rarer cutaneous side effects include drug-induced lupus, purple hand syndrome, pigmentary alterations and IgA bullous dermatosis. Phenytoin can effect clotting function and alter vitamin and mineral levels. Prenatal exposure to phenytoin may result in a spectrum of structural, developmental and behavioural changes, known as the fetal hydantoin syndrome. Patients who use phenytoin in the long-term commonly manifest with gingival hyperplasia, coarsening of the facies, and hirsutism.

Vancomycin-induced linear IgA bullous disease presenting as toxic epidermal necrolysis

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is a rare autoimmune vesiculobullous disorder characterized by variable clinical presentations that may mimic bullous pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis, cicatricial pemphigoid and erythema multiforme. A few cases of drug-induced LABD that clinically resembled toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported. A subset of patients with LABD have been found to be drug-induced; the most common drug being vancomycin. The diagnosis of LABD is confirmed by the presence of a linear band of IgA along the basement membrane zone on direct immunofluorescence microscopy. We report a case of a 77-year-old man who presented to us with vancomycin-induced LABD that presented clinically as TEN. He had a complete recovery over a 3-week period following discontinuation of the vancomycin and the addition of oral dapsone therapy. It is important to be aware that drug-induced LABD can mimic TEN.