Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Induced by Nevirapine among HIV-Infected Pregnant Women: Five Cases

Abstract

Introduction: The nevirapine is the most widely accused drug in toxidermias in patients living with HIV. It is responsible for toxic epidermal necrolysis called Lyell syndrome or Stevens Johnson syndrome, severe during pregnancy. We report five cases in pregnant women who are HIV-positive.Case reports: Five pregnant women aged 35 years on average with a mean gestational age of 29.6 weeks of amenorrhea were HIV1-positive.The mean CD4 count was 416/mm 3 . They had severe toxidermia such as Lyell syndrome or Stevens Johnson syndrome. These toxidermias appeared on average 26 days after taking antiretroviral triple therapy including nevirapine as part of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). The outcome was favorable after discontinuation of antiretrovirals. Nevirapine was substituted with lopinavir/ritonavir. Newborns had received antiretroviral prophylaxis and were not infected with HIV. Conclusion:The nevirapine toxidermia is common during antiretroviral therapy. These toxidermia are severe during pregnancy related to maternal and fetal vital risks. The replacement of nevirapine with an anti-protease is a therapeutic alternative in our resource-limited countries.