Case history / examination
A 52-year-old woman admitted to our hospital with suspected TEN. Her
symptoms had begun five days earlier following two weeks of
sulfasalazine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Initial symptoms
included fever and stinging eyes followed by dusky red macular and flat
atypical target lesions that had first appeared on her palms and sole
with rapid progression to more than 70% of her body surface (Fig. 1).
Erythema and erosions of the buccal, ocular, and genital mucosae were
present. Both Nikolsky and Asboe-Hansen signs were positive. Tense
blisters were observed on her palms and soles (Fig. 2). The clinical
diagnosis of TEN necrolysis was made.