ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME TO SAQUINAVIR

Background. Saquinavir is a protease inhibitor used for the treatment of HIV infection. Adverse skin reactions have been rare. We report her e the first case of erythema multiforme in a patient given saquinavir. Case report. A 32-year-old man was seropositive for HIV and consulted due to the development of round maculo-papular les ions centered on a bulla and two erosive lesions of the palate five days after the intro duction of saquinavir. Histology was compatible with erythema multifor me. After withdrawal of saquinavir, the skin and mucosal lesions regre ssed in 15 days, with no recurrence at 3 months. Discussion. Adverse s kin reactions to saquinavir are exceptional (eruptions, pruritis). We describe here the first case of erythema multiforme caused by saquinav ir (imputability criteria I2 BO). Due to the structural analogy of saq uinavir with other protease inhibitors (indiravir, ritonavir, nelfinav ir) it would be difficult to prescribe a compound of the same class.