Toxic epidermal necrolysis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treated with intravenous gammaglobulin

A 31-year-old man with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) was successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. He presented with a widespread, blistering skin rash, extensive mucosal ulceration, high-grade fever and pancytopaenia. Nevirapine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, was suspected as the culprit drug, although the patient had been taking this medication for 6 months. The patient also demonstrated an increased number of gamma/delta (gamma delta) T cells that decreased concomitantly with his clinical improvement. This correlation has not been described in TEN previously and may be of pathophysiological significance.