Role of common genetic variants on the risk of Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

Identification of risk factors for carbamazepine-induced serious mucocutaneous adverse reactions: A case-control study using data from spontaneous adverse drug reaction reports

OBJECTIVES

To identify risk factors other than genetic for severe carbamazepine-induced mucocutaneous reactions, that is, SJS, TEN, and exfoliative dermatitis (ED).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We did a case-control study using data from the Swedish national database of spontaneously reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs). We selected all patients who had been reported from January 1, 1965 to March 31, 2010 as having experienced SJS (n = 78), TEN (n = 6), or ED (n = 8), and assessed as at least possibly related to carbamazepine. We also included diagnoses possibly representative of early signs of these serious conditions, that is, erythema multiforme (EM, n = 34) and scaly rash (n = 13). We compared data on demographics, drug treatment, and clinical features for these patients (cases, n = 139) with those from patients who had experienced any other type of ADR from carbamazepine during the same time period (controls, n = 887).

RESULTS

After adjustment for multiple comparisons, alcohol abuse was statistically significantly more common among cases than controls (34.5% vs 8.7%, odds ratio 5.5 [95% confidence interval 3.6-8.4], P = 3.14 × 10(-14) ). The same was seen for SJS and EM individually.

CONCLUSION

Alcohol abuse is a possible risk factor for serious carbamazepine-induced mucocutaneous reactions.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome induced by the cross-reactivity between teicoplanin and vancomycin

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

The glycopeptide antibiotics, vancomycin and teicoplanin, are the mainstay of therapy for severe gram-positive organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. We report a case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) induced by sequential therapy with teicoplanin and vancomycin, in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

CASE SUMMARY

A 74-year-old Han Chinese with 1-year history of COPD was admitted for treatment of infective endocarditis. After teicoplanin therapy for 12 days, he developed pruritus and maculopapular over his trunk and limbs. His rash spread rapidly to most parts of the body surface area, 7 days after his anti-infection therapy was switched to vancomycin. This was stopped, but he developed SJS when teicoplanin was re-introduced. This patient recovered from his drug eruptions when both teicoplanin and vancomycin were stopped. Pharmacogenetic analyses revealed he was heterozygous with respect to two variants (rs2844682 of MUC21 and rs750332 of BAG6).

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Cross-reactivity between vancomycin and teicoplanin is rare. SJS attributable to sequential treatment with these two antibiotics has not been reported previously. Care should be taken when prescribing vancomycin in patients with a previous documented skin eruption to teicoplanin, especially in those who carry any susceptibility alleles to SJS/TEN.