Norfloxacin-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) in a man who was treated with oral norfloxacin for prostatitis.


METHODS
A 40-year-old man presented with a severe skin reaction, which was diagnosed as TEN. He had received norfloxacin 800 mg/day over a 14-day period for prostatitis and, 10 days after finishing the treatment regimen, he developed cutaneous and mucous lesions typical of TEN. After a prolonged hospitalization and treatment with oral prednisolone therapy, fluid resuscitation, and wound dressing, the man recovered.


CONCLUSIONS
TEN is an infrequent, yet often fatal, severe systemic and cutaneous disease that is most often an adverse drug reaction. There are few case reports of TEN induced by fluoroquinolones. A MEDLINE search (1966-February 2005) revealed no reports of toxic epidermal necrolysis, but one incidence of Stevens-Johnson syndrome due to norfloxacin therapy. An objective causality assessment suggests that TEN was probably related to norfloxacin in this patient.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first case of TEN associated with the use of oral norfloxacin. We hope that this case report creates awareness that norfloxacin-induced TEN is possible.
Sahin
Mustafa Turhan
MT
Medical Faculty, Department of Dermatology, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey. mustafaturhan@superonline.com
Ozturkcan
Serap
S
Inanir
Isil
I
Filiz
Elif E
EE
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009643:Norfloxacin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
D009643:Norfloxacin