Drug eruptions induced by telaprevir in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection: a prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: When co-administered with interferon and ribavirin, the prescription drug telaprevir significantly improves treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Its use, however, also increases the likelihood of adverse effects that may lead to discontinuation of treatment. Cutaneous adverse effects are particularly common. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of drug eruptions induced by telaprevir in patients receiving HCV treatment and to analyze the clinical course of lesions and response to treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study of all patients who started a treatment regimen that included telaprevir between May 2012 and July 2013. We recorded the demographic characteristics of the patients who developed telaprevir-induced eruptions, and analyzed the clinical characteristics of the lesions and their clinical course following the application of guideline-based treatment recommendations. RESULTS: Twenty (46%) of the 43 patients who received triple therapy with interferon, ribavirin, and telaprevir during the study period developed drug reactions attributable to telaprevir. The reaction was classified as mild or moderate (grades 1 or 2) in 90% of cases and consisted of an exanthem with erythematous-edematous scaling plaques and papules. The rash worsened, mainly by spreading, in about one-third of cases. The skin lesions led to discontinuation of treatment in 2 patients (4.6%). Sustained viral response was achieved in 34 patients (79%). CONCLUSIONS: Telaprevir-induced eruptions are common and often progress, but they rarely require patients to discontinue treatment.

Management of refractory telaprevir-induced dermatitis using oral corticosteroids.

We present a series of 12 patients with telaprevir-induced skin toxicity. Some patients presented eczematous lesion, while others presented nonscaling macular lesions that became more purpuric in the lower limbs. Seven of the 12 patients had skin lesions affecting more than 50% of the body surface area, but none had systemic manifestations. Oral corticosteroids, prescribed in 7 patients, produced symptomatic improvement, and the response to the antiviral treatment in these patients was good. The 3 biopsies performed showed a superficial perivascular dermatitis with foci of red cell extravasation. Monitoring is central to the management of skin reactions secondary to the protease inhibitors, as severe drug eruptions have been reported. Treatment is usually symptomatic. We describe 7 cases in which oral corticosteroids-whose use continues to be controversial -were administered as a last resort for the control of pruritus.

Advances in the diagnosis of drug eruptions.

Drug eruptions affecting the skin or mucosas (toxicoderma) are the most common adverse effects of drugs and represent one of the more common diagnostic challenges for the dermatologist. A better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of drug reactions, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacoepidemiology will help us to resolve the main dilemmas and to anticipate and even prevent such reactions. Many drug eruptions are due to T cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions that can involve activation of different proinflammatory mechanisms, which would explain the varied manifestations. Some aspects defy the classical understanding of antigen processing and presentation. New immunological hypotheses, such as the «p-i concept¼, have been introduced to complement the hapten theory and, at least in part, help to explain why drug reactions tend to affect the skin and why certain viral infections increase the risk of drug eruptions. In this paper we analyze these pathogenic concepts and the role of HLA genes in the susceptibility to certain severe adverse drug reactions, and also examine other advances in the diagnosis of drug eruptions. We briefly discuss a number of recently described reactions to new drugs.

Utilidad de la ciclosporina en necrólisis epidérmica tóxica: a propósito de un caso / Cyclosporine-A use in toxic epidermal necrolysis: a case report

La necrólisis epidérmica tóxica (NET) es una enfermedad mucocutánea, cuya principal etología son el uso de medicamentos. Tiene manifestaciones multisistémicas graves, con mortalidad entre el 25-30%, su identificación y manejo temprano tienen impacto sobre su pronóstico. Dentro de las alternativas para su manejo, está la ciclosporina, un inmunomodulador que demostró una reducción significativa en el riesgo de mortalidad, comparado con el uso de otros inmunomoduladores. Se presenta el caso de una paciente con NET que recibió manejo con ciclosporina, presentando una adecuada evolución clínica. (AU)

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a mucocutaneus disease, which main etiology is the use of medication. Due to the severe multisystemic manifestations it has a mortality between 25-30%, reason why early diagnosis and treatment have an impact over its prognosis. As a management option we have cyclosporine, an immunomodulator that has shown a significant mortality reduction compared to the use of other Immunomodulators. Next, we will present the case of a patient with a TEN diagnosis that received cyclosporine and presented significant clinical improvement. (AU)

Eritema pigmentado fijo ampolloso medicamentoso relacionado con el uso de ivermectina en paciente con Neumonía por SARS-Cov-2: Reporte de caso / Drug-related bullous fixed pigmented erythema related to the use of ivermectin in a patient with SARS-Cov2 pneumonia: Case Report

RESUMEN Introducción: El eritema pigmentado fijo ampolloso, es una forma de toxicodermia potencialmente grave. Se caracteriza por la aparición de lesiones cutáneas y/o mucosas, únicas o múltiples, pueden aparecer en cualquier zona, tras la administración de un fármaco u otra sustancia. Se presenta un varón de 73 años con diagnóstico de eritema pigmentado fijo ampolloso secundario a la ingesta de ivermectina. Es necesario que el medico sepa reconocer los efectos adversos de la automedicación con ivermectina contra el SARS CoV-2, a fin de realizar un diagnóstico temprano e iniciar un tratamiento oportuno.

ABSTRACT Background: Bullous fixed pigmented erythema is a potentially serious form of toxicoderma. It is characterized by the appearance of cutaneous and / or mucosal lesions, single or multiple, which can appear in any area, after the administration of a drug or other substance. A 73-year-old man is presented with a diagnosis of bullous fixed pigmented erythema secondary to the ingestion of ivermectin. It is necessary for the physician to recognize the adverse effects of self-medication with ivermectin against SARS CoV-2, to make an early diagnosis and initiate timely treatment.