Toxic epidermal necrolysis following combination of methotrexate and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole

Abstract

A 15-year-old boy with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (FAB L1), diagnosed in 1995, received combination chemotherapy consisting of 6 weeks of induction (vincristine, epirubicin, L-asparaginase, prednisolone) and 2 weeks of consolidation (cytosine arabinosides, etoposide). After achieving remission, for further maintenance of remission, he was treated with 14 cycles of intensive chemotherapy consisting of 6-MP, 10 mg/kg orally on the first 4 days, and cyclophosphamide, 1200 mg/m2, vincristine, 1.5 mg/m2, epirubicin, 15 mg/m2, and cytosine arabinoside, 40 mg/m2, intravenously on days 4, 11, 39, and 40, respectively. On day 18 of each cycle, he received intravenous methotrexate (MTX) infusion in a total dose of 150 mg/m2 plus oral leucovorin (30 mg/m2 ) rescue 36 h after starting MTX therapy. In addition, oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was given regularly to prevent Pneumocystis carinii infection. The patient achieved remission during the first course of treatment, but 8 months later the disease relapsed. He then received four doses of MTX (800 mg intravenously) plus leucovorin rescue in the following 4 months. During the last MTX therapy, small hemorrhagic bullae were found on the lateral side of the right ankle, but subsided after a few days. Due to partial remission of the disease, he was admitted again in January 1999 for high-dose MTX therapy. An initial hemogram on admission revealed hemoglobin 7.2 g/dL, white cell count 15,200/mm3, platelet count 153/mm3, blood creatinine 0.5 mg/dL, and alanine leucine aminotransferase (ALT) 20 U/L. He received 8500 mg of MTX (5000 mg/m2 ) as a continuous intravenous infusion for 24 h. Thirty-six hours after the start of MTX infusion, leucovorin (30 mg, intravenous) rescue was initiated every 6 h for 3 days. Another preventive measure to cover MTX toxicity included aggressive intravenous fluid replacement (4 L/m2 /day) and the addition of 25 meq/L sodium bicarbonate to the intravenous fluid to alkalinize the urine. Concurrent medication included 6-MP (50 mg) once daily and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (120 mg, 600 mg) twice daily every other day. Plasma MTX levels were 52.36 micromol/L 24 h after MTX infusion, 1.87 micromol/L after 48 h, 0.57 micromol/L after 72 h, and 0.41 micromol/L after 96 h. These indicated delayed MTX plasma clearance. The blood creatinine level was mildly elevated from 0.5 mg/dL to 0.7 mg/dL. Thirty-six hours after the administration of MTX, the patient developed an erythematous painful swelling on the right middle finger. The erythema, with subsequent large bulla formation, progressed to all the fingers, toes, palms, and the soles of the feet. Some erythematous to hemorrhagic papules also appeared on the bilateral elbows. Subsequently, diffuse tender erythema with extensive erosions and focal tiny pustules developed on the back, abdomen, proximal extremities, and face (Fig. 1a,b). A positive Nikolsky's sign was also present. A biopsy specimen of the right dorsal hand lesion revealed parakeratosis, detached acanthotic epidermis with sca...

Methotrexate-induced cutaneous ulceration in patients with erythrodermic mycosis fungoides

“…Methotrexate-induced skin necrolysis has been reported to be dose dependent, suggesting a toxic drug effect with the toxic dosage being dependent on the individual (Yang et al 2000). In patients with toxic serum levels, or possibly with an increased sensitivity to methotrexate, there may be significant necrosis of dividing cells in a particular area of skin, to the point that there are no dividing cells in the basal layer to replace the layers undergoing sloughing.…”

Histopathology of drug eruptions-general criteria, common patterns, and differential diagnosis

“…In contrast to epithelial neoplasms, atypical keratocytes are usually confined to discrete foci and are not crowded together closely. They have been described especially in reactions to chemotherapeutic drugs [19–20]. However, they may be seen in response to a wide variety of drugs and seem to be related to interface changes, since they are also encountered episodically in other interface dermatitides, such as lichen sclerosus and lupus erythematosus.…”

A deadly prescription: combination of methotrexate and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

“…The most commonly reported toxicity of MTX due to its interaction with TS is pancytopenia, acute megaloblastic anemia, stomatitis, and nephrotoxicity [19]. Other case reports have also shown rare side effects such as toxic epidermal necrolysis [23]. Care should be taken not to confuse toxicity of MTX with TS as TS has similar side effect profile namely nephrotoxicity, pancytopenia, and Steven Johnson’s syndrome.…”