Thalidomide-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe dermatologic disorder associated with mortality of up to 30%. Withdrawal of the causative agent is crucial in its management. Although thalidomide-induced dermatologic disorders rarely were reported before thalidomide was administered to patients positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, hypersensitivity reactions including rash are the agent's major dose-limiting toxicities in this population. As it is prescribed for other immunosuppressed patients, such as those with malignancies, the frequency of dermatologic reactions (including -TEN) may increase. A 62-year-old woman developed TEN after approximately 5 weeks of thalidomide therapy for the treatment of a glioblastoma.