ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME AND TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Erythema multiforme and toxic epidermal necrolysis were considered in the past to be different aspects in the spectrum of a single disease. Using standard histology and immunochemistry we present evidence that the inflammatory infiltrates of erythema multiforme and toxic epiderma l necrolysis are strikingly different both in density and nature. Eryt hema multiforme has a high density cell infiltrate rich in T-lymphocyt es. By contrast, toxic epidermal necrolysis is characterized by a cell -poor infiltrate in which macrophages and dendrocytes predominate with a strong immunoreactivity for TNF-alpha. Such differences indicate a distinct pathogenesis for these diseases.