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Interleukin-2-induced dermatotoxicity resembling toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wiener, JS; Tucker, JA; Walther, PJ
Published in: South Med J
June 1992

Interleukin-2 is a promising new immunotherapeutic antineoplastic agent, but it can cause severe multiorgan toxicity. Although dermatologic toxicity is seen in most patients receiving IL-2 therapy, it is usually manifested as pruritus and an erythematous macular rash, which resolve quickly once infusion is terminated. We have described a patient who was allergic to multiple drugs and who had sloughing of large sheets of epidermis over 75% of body surface area during IL-2 therapy. Clinically, this was indistinguishable from toxic epidermal necrolysis, but the findings on skin biopsy were nonspecific for any dermatitides. The skin healed after cessation of IL-2 infusion, but the rash recurred upon resuming infusion at a lesser dose, indicting IL-2 as the probable causative agent. This unique dermatologic sensitivity to IL-2 suggests that IL-2 could act directly as a promoter in dermatologic disease. Patients with a history of allergic reactions to other unrelated drugs should be monitored carefully for unusual bullous dermatologic changes during IL-2 therapy.

Duke Scholars

Published In

South Med J

DOI

ISSN

0038-4348

Publication Date

June 1992

Volume

85

Issue

6

Start / End Page

656 / 659

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
  • Middle Aged
  • Interleukin-2
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Drug Eruptions
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Wiener, J. S., Tucker, J. A., & Walther, P. J. (1992). Interleukin-2-induced dermatotoxicity resembling toxic epidermal necrolysis. South Med J, 85(6), 656–659. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-199206000-00020
Wiener, J. S., J. A. Tucker, and P. J. Walther. “Interleukin-2-induced dermatotoxicity resembling toxic epidermal necrolysis.South Med J 85, no. 6 (June 1992): 656–59. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-199206000-00020.
Wiener JS, Tucker JA, Walther PJ. Interleukin-2-induced dermatotoxicity resembling toxic epidermal necrolysis. South Med J. 1992 Jun;85(6):656–9.
Wiener, J. S., et al. “Interleukin-2-induced dermatotoxicity resembling toxic epidermal necrolysis.South Med J, vol. 85, no. 6, June 1992, pp. 656–59. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/00007611-199206000-00020.
Wiener JS, Tucker JA, Walther PJ. Interleukin-2-induced dermatotoxicity resembling toxic epidermal necrolysis. South Med J. 1992 Jun;85(6):656–659.

Published In

South Med J

DOI

ISSN

0038-4348

Publication Date

June 1992

Volume

85

Issue

6

Start / End Page

656 / 659

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
  • Middle Aged
  • Interleukin-2
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Drug Eruptions
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences