Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap triggered by ethosuximide: a rare pediatric report

Sandra Soares-Cardoso, Department of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal Joana Pimenta, Department of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal Flávia Belinha, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Manuel Salgado, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Margarida Rato, Department of Dermatology, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal Cristina Pereira, Department of Neuropediatrics, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Leonor Ramos, Department of Dermatology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe and life-threatening mucocutaneous conditions characterized by fever and necrosis of the epidermis. Up to 90% of cases are drug-induced. Antiseizure drugs (ASD) are known to cause SJS, but only a very few ethosuximide-induced SJS cases have been reported in the literature.

We report a case of ethosuximide-induced SJS/TEN overlap in a 4-year-old boy, confirmed by patch tests, with improvement with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and systemic corticosteroid therapy cycle.

This case highlights the need to expand knowledge about the optimal treatment strategy for these rare conditions, in addition to supportive treatment.

Palabras clave: Antiepileptic drug. Ethosuximide. Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Toxic epidermal necrolysis.