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Fathallah N, Kenani Z, Mokni S, Gammoudi R, Slim R, Fetoui Ghariani N, Ghariani N, Ben Salem C, Ouni B, Denguezli M. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis: Analysis of cases managed in a Tunisian tertiary hospital. Therapie 2024; 79:469-474. [PMID: 38142193 DOI: 10.1016/j.therap.2023.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a severe and life-threatening cutaneous adverse reaction. Drug-induced AGEP is mainly related to antibiotics. More recently, AGEP following spider bites has been increasingly described. Treatment includes withdrawal of the offending drug and supportive care. In Tunisia, data concerning severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) in general and especially AGEP is lacking. Herein, we conducted a retrospective study to investigate the epidemiological, clinical characteristics and etiologies of AGEP referred to the Dermatology department. Our study included 32 cases of AGEP. AGEP cases occurred in overall 8.9% of all SCARs referred to the department during the same period study. The majority were females (24 women and 7 men). The median age of the patients was 33 years. A history of psoriasis was reported in 16.1% of patients. All patients presented with an extensive erythematous rash with pinhead pustules. Neutrophil hyperleukocytosis (greater than 7000/mm3) was noted in 17 patients (63% of cases). It was associated with hypereosinophilia exceeding 500 elements/mm3 in 8 cases (29.6%). Drug-induced AGEP was reported in 53% of cases. Antibiotics were implicated in the majority of cases. Delay in onset ranged from 15hours to 7 days, with an average of 2.8 days. A non-drug-induced etiology was considered if the pharmacological investigation was negative, or if a clear non-drug trigger was found. It was retained in ten cases (48.4% of all observations). Spider bites were revealed in 8 cases. AGEP represents a severe, usually drug-related skin reaction. It is classified as a type IVd reaction mediating T cell-related sterile neutrophilic inflammatory response. It typically occurs within 24-48 h of ingestion of the offending drug. Antibiotics are the most common drug family to cause AGEP. Spider bites were involved in 25.8% of cases in our study, as important as antibiotic-induced AGEP. Analysis of the particularities of AGEP according to etiology, whether drug-induced or not, revealed the presence of an initial escarotic lesion (P=0.01) and the finding of blood hypereosinophilia (P=0.014) in the non-drug AGEP group were the distinguishing features. Blood hyperesoniophilia, more frequent in the non-drug AGEP group, suggests a pathophysiology probably different from that of the drug AGEP group. Clinicians should be aware of both etiologies. Our study focuses on the importance of AGEP associated with spider bite as a potential triggering factor in Tunisia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neila Fathallah
- Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Department of Pharmacology, University of Sousse, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia.
| | - Zied Kenani
- Department of Dermatology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Sana Mokni
- Department of Dermatology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Ryma Gammoudi
- Department of Dermatology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Raoudha Slim
- Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Department of Pharmacology, University of Sousse, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
| | | | - Najet Ghariani
- Department of Dermatology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Chaker Ben Salem
- Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Department of Pharmacology, University of Sousse, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Bouraoui Ouni
- Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Department of Pharmacology, University of Sousse, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Denguezli
- Department of Dermatology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
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Parisi R, Shah H, Navarini AA, Muehleisen B, Ziv M, Shear NH, Dodiuk-Gad RP. Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis: Clinical Features, Differential Diagnosis, and Management. Am J Clin Dermatol 2023:10.1007/s40257-023-00779-3. [PMID: 37156992 PMCID: PMC10166469 DOI: 10.1007/s40257-023-00779-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a rare, acute, severe cutaneous adverse reaction mainly attributed to drugs, although other triggers, including infections, vaccinations, ingestion of various substances, and spider bites, have also been described. AGEP is characterized by the development of edema and erythema followed by the eruption of multiple punctate, non-follicular, sterile pustules and subsequent desquamation. AGEP typically has a rapid onset and prompt resolution within a few weeks. The differential diagnoses for AGEP are broad and include infectious, inflammatory, and drug-induced etiologies. Diagnosis of AGEP depends on both clinical and histologic criteria, as cases of overlap with other disease processes have been reported. Management includes removal of the offending drug or treatment of the underlying cause, if necessary, and supportive care, as AGEP is a self-limited disease. This review aims to provide an overview and update on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, reported precipitating factors, differentials, diagnosis, and management of AGEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Parisi
- Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hemali Shah
- Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander A Navarini
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Beda Muehleisen
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Ziv
- Department of Dermatology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Neil H Shear
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Roni P Dodiuk-Gad
- Department of Dermatology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada.
- Department of Dermatology, Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3525433, Israel.
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Vallejo-Yagüe E, Martinez-De la Torre A, Mohamad OS, Sabu S, Burden AM. Drug Triggers and Clinic of Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP): A Literature Case Series of 297 Patients. J Clin Med 2022; 11:397. [PMID: 35054090 PMCID: PMC8780223 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11020397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a rare skin reaction, commonly caused by drugs. Available evidence mostly relies on small studies or case reports. We collected published AGEP case reports and, subsequently, described the patient characteristics, suspect and concomitant drugs, time to onset, disease management, and clinical prognosis. This study included 297 AGEP patients (64.3% women) obtained from 250 published case reports or case series with individual patient data. AGEP affected patients of all ages, but the majority of patients (88.2%) were ≥25 years old. The most frequently reported suspect drugs were anti-infectives for systemic use (36.5%), particularly antibacterials for systemic use (31.0%), and especially beta-lactam antibacterials (18.3%) and macrolides (4.3%). Other frequent suspect drugs were antineoplastics (12.2%), and anti-inflammatory/anti-rheumatic products (5.2%) plus hydroxychloroquine (12.8%). Mean time to onset was 9.1 days (standard deviation SD 13.94). Some patients developed fever (64.3%) and systemic involvement (18.9%), and most patients (76.4%) received pharmacological treatment for AGEP. Seven patients died, although five of them were already critically ill prior to AGEP. In conclusion, antibiotics remain the most common suspected cause of AGEP. While case mortality rate may be up to 2.5%, disentangling the role of AGEP on the fatal outcome from the role of the preexisting health conditions remains challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enriqueta Vallejo-Yagüe
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Martinez-De la Torre
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Omar S Mohamad
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shweta Sabu
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea M Burden
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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