Carbamazepine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome treated with IV steroids and IVIG

A 17-year-old female is presented who developed antiepileptic drug hypersen sitivity syndrome after treatment with carbamazepine. The initial diagnoses were idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and toxic shock syndrome. The pat ient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and intravenous steroids. After a severe climax on days 2-4 she recovered completely and was discharg ed on the eighth day of hospitalization. Although me do not have direct pro of, we believe that these treatment modalities, especially the IVIG, shorte ned and ameliorated the clinical course of the disease. (C) 2000 by Elsevie r Science Inc. All rights reserved.