Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by the antifungal terbinafine: case report and review of the literature

Publication

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by the antifungal terbinafine: case report and review of the literature

Journal Paper/Review - Apr 1, 2005

Beltraminelli H S, Lerch Marianne, Arnold A, Bircher A J, Haeusermann P

Citation

Beltraminelli H, Lerch M, Arnold A, Bircher A, Haeusermann P. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by the antifungal terbinafine: case report and review of the literature. The British journal of dermatology 2005; 152:780-3.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

The British journal of dermatology 2005; 152

Publication Date

Apr 1, 2005

Issn Print

0007-0963

Pages

780-3

Brief description/objective

Cutaneous drug reactions occur with a frequency of 1-8% and can be higher for certain classes of drugs. They can range from mild morbilliform eruptions to more severe forms such as drug-hypersensitivity syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis or anaphylaxis. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is considered to be a clinical reaction pattern, which is induced in over 90% of the cases by systemic drugs. It is a rare presentation of an adverse drug reaction most frequently triggered by anti-infectious drugs. A high proportion of these cases have been attributed to aminopenicillins and macrolides. We report a terbinafine-induced AGEP in a 68-year-old male confirmed by lymphocyte stimulation in vitro, and review the published cases induced by antimycotic drugs with special emphasis on terbinafine-triggered cases.