Severe erythroderma as a complication of continuous epoprostenol therapy.
Epoprostenol is a vasodilator that is produced by vascular endothelial cells and is currently the "gold standard" therapy for patients with severe primary pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary hypertension secondary to collagen vascular disease. Hypersensitivity to the drug has not been reported. We report a case of a patient with pulmonary hypertension and undifferentiated connective tissue disease who, after 2 months of treatment with epoprostenol, presented with rapidly progressive erythema, scaling, nausea and vomiting, and fever. Test results from a skin biopsy specimen were consistent with a drug reaction. The patient' condition improved after rapid tapering of her epoprostenol and administration of corticosteroids. Epoprostenol may be associated rarely with severe erythroderma.
Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Gregory S
GS
Ahearn
M Angelica
MA
Selim
Victor F
VF
Tapson
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000473:pathology*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011464:Epoprostenol