title: Interleukin-2-induced dermatotoxicity resembling toxic epidermal necrolysis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wiener
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Walther
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2