Skip to main content

Clinicopathological Differential Diagnosis of Drug-Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (Lyell’s Syndrome) and Acute Graft-Versus-Host Reaction

  • Chapter
Dermatopathology

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Pathology ((CT PATHOLOGY,volume 94))

Abstract

Over the past decades, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), also called allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), has been progressively refined. It evolved from last-resort experiments to first-line therapy for various haematolymphoid malignancies and a few other metabolic disorders. Despite effective immunosuppressive regimens, allogeneic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a serious and common complication of BMT; mortality increases with GVHD severity [1]. GVHD has also been documented following transplantation of solid organs containing passenger leukocytes. This latter situation is notable for its rarity and its association with high mortality [2]. Contrasting with its deleterious effects, GVHD exhibits an antitumoral effect termed the graf-tversus-leukaemia effect. Such a beneficial aspect has also been reported in multiple myeloma and breast cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Aractingi S, Chosidow O (1998) Cutaneous graft-versus-host disease. Arch Dermatol 134:602–612

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Schmuth M, Vogel W, Weinlich G, Margreiter R, Fritsch P, Sepp N (1999) Cutaneous lesions as the presenting sign of acute graft-versus-host disease following liver transplantation. Br J Dermatol 141:901–904

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lerner KG, Kao GF, Storb R, Buckner CD, Clift RA, Thomas ED (1974) Histopathology of graft-vs.-host reaction (GvHR) in human recipients of marrow from HLA-matched sibling donors. Transplant Proc 6:367–371

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Villada G, Roujeau JC, Cordonnier C, Bagot M, Kuentz M, Wechsler J, Vernant JP (1990) Toxic epidermal necrolysis after bone marrow transplantation: study of nine cases. J Am Acad Dermatol 23:870–875

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. McDonald BJ, Singer JW, Bianco JA (1992) Toxic epidermal necrolysis possibly linked to aztreonam in bone marrow transplant patients. Ann Pharmacother 26:34–35

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Stone N, Sheerin S, Burge S (1999) Toxic epidermal necrolysis and graft vs. host disease: a clinical spectrum but a diagnostic dilemma. Clin Exp Dermatol 24:260–262

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wilke M, Poole J, den Hann JM, Goulmy E (1998) Genomic identification of the minor histocompatibility antigen HA-1 locus by allele-specific PCR. Tissue Antigens 52: 303–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Paller AS, Nelson A, Steffan L, Gottschalk L, Kaizer (1988) T-lymphocyte subsets in the lesional skin of allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplant patients. Arch Dermatol 124:1795–1801

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Favre A, Amilcare C, Bacigalupo A, Lanino E, Berti E, Grossi C (1987) Immuno-histochemical study of skin lesions in acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease following bone marrow transplantation. Am J Surg Pathol 21:23–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. DeBueger M, Bakker A, Van Rood JJ, Goulmy E (1991) Minor histocompatibility antigens, defined by graft-vs.-host disease-derived cytotoxic T lymphocytes show variable expression on human skin cells. Eur J Immunol 21:2839–2344

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Horn TD, Haskell J (1998) The lymphocytic infiltrate in acute cutaneous allogeneic graft-versus-host reactions lacks evidence for phenotypic restriction in donor-derived cells. J Cutan Pathol 25:210–214

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Dietrich PY, Caignard A, Lim A, et al. (1994) In vivo T-cell clonal amplification at time of graft-versus-host disease. Blood 84:2815–2820

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Liu X, Chesnokova V, Forman SJ, Diamond DJ (1996) Molecular analysis of T-cell receptor repertoire in bone marrow transplant recipients: evidence for oligoclonal T-cell expansion in graft-versus-host disease. Blood 87:3032–3044

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Facon T, Janin A, Noel MP, Jouet JP (1995) Involvement of macrophages in lethal forms of graft-versus-host disease. Lancet 345:392

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Facon T, Jouet JP, Noel-Walter MP, Bloget F, Bauters F, Janin A (1987) Involvement of TNF-a secreting macrophages in lethal forms of human graft-versus-host disease. Bone Marrow Transplant 20:511–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Yoo YH, Park BS, Whitaker-Menezes D, Korngold R, Murphy G (1998) Dermal dendrocytes participate in the cellular pathology of experimental acute graft-versus-host-disease. J Cut Pathol 25:426–434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Piérard GE, Nikkels-Tassoudji N, Arrese J, Nikkels A, Hermanns-Lê T, Piérard-Franchimont C (1998) Ll-protein in incipient lymphocyte-depleted graft-versus-host disease. Expression in keratinocytes and co-expression with factor XIIIa in dermal cells. Turk J Dermatopathol 7:10–13

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ferrara J, Deeg HJ (1999) Graft-versus-host-disease. N Engl J Med 324:667–374

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hermanns-Lê T, Paquet P, Piérard-Franchimont C, Arrese J, Piérard GE (1999) Regulatory function of Factor XIIIa-positive dendrocytes in incipient toxic epidermal necrolysis and graft-versus-host reaction. Dermatology 198:184–186

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Krenger W, Hill GR, Ferrara J (1987) Cytokine cascades in acute graft-versus-host disease. Transplantation 64:553–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Nestel F, Price K, Seemayer T, Lapp W (1992) Macrophage priming and lipopolysaccharide triggered release of TNF-alpha during graft versus host disease. J Exp Med 175:405–413

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Barbaud A, Bené MC, Faure G (1987) Immunological physiopathology of cutaneous adverse reactions. Eur J Dermatol 7:319–323

    Google Scholar 

  23. Paquet P, Piérard GE (1999) Would cyclosporin A be beneficial to mitigate drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis? Dermatology 198:198–202

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Takata M (1995) Immunohistochemical identification of perforin-positive cytotoxic lymphocytes in graft-versus-host disease. Am J Clin Pathol 103:324–329

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Gilliam A, Whitaker-Menezes D, Korngold R, Murphy G (1996) Apoptosis is the predominant form of epithelial target cell injury in acute experimental graft versus host disease. J Invest Dermatol 107:377–383

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Paul C, Wolkenstein P, Adle H, Wechsler J, Garchon HJ, Revuz J, Roujeau JC (1996) Apoptosis as a mechanism of keratinocyte death in toxic epidermal necrolysis. Br J Dermatol 134:710–714

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Via C, Nguyen P, Shoustov A, Drappa J, Elkon KB (1996) A major role for the Fas pathway in acute graft-versus-host disease. J Immunol 157:5387–5393

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Yoo YH, Gillian AC, Whitaker-Menezes D, Korngold R, Murphy G (1987) Experimental induction and ultrastructural characterization of apoptosis in murine acute cutaneous graft-versus-host disease. Arch Dermatol Res 289:389–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Viard I, Wehrili P, Bullani R, Schneider P, Holler N, Salomon D, Hunzcker T, Saurat JH, Tschopp J, French LE (1998) Inhibition of toxic epidermal necrolysis by blockade of CD95 with human intravenous immunoglobulin. Sciences 282:490–493

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kohler S, Hendrickson MR, Chao NJ, Smoller BR (1987) Value of skin biopsies in assessing prognosis and progression of acute graft-versus-host disease. Am J Surg Pathol 11:988–996

    Google Scholar 

  31. Elliot CJ, Sloane JP, Sanderson KV, Vincent M, Shepherd V, Powles R (1987) The histological diagnosis of cutaneous graft versus host disease: relationship of skin changes to marrow purging and other clinical variables. Histopathology 11:145–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Johnson ML, Farmer ER (1998) Graft-versus-host reactions in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol 38:369–392

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Horn TD, Zahurak ML, Atkins E, et al. (1997) Lichen planus-like histopathologic characteristics in the cutaneous graft-vs-host reaction. Prognostic significance independent of time course after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Arch Dermatol 133:961–965

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Horn TD (1994) Acute cutaneous eruptions after marrow ablation: roses by other names? J Cutan Pathol 21:385–392

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Hymes SR, Farmer ER, Lewis PG, Tutschka PJ, Santos GW (1985) Cutaneous graft-versushost reaction: prognostic features seen by light microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol 12: 468–474

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Sviland L, Pearson AD, Eastham EJ, Hamilton PJ, Proctor SJ, Malcom AJ (1988) Histological features of skin and rectal biopsy specimens after autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. J Clin Pathol 41:148–154

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Snover D (1990) The pathology of acute graft-vs-host disease. In: Burakoff SJ (ed) Graft-vshost disease: immunology, pathophysiology, and treatment. M. Dekker, New York, pp 337–353

    Google Scholar 

  38. Piérard GE, Nikkels-Tassoudji N, Nikkels A, Arrese J, Piérard-Franchimont C, Jerusalem G, Beguin Y, Fillet G (1998) Epidermal calprotectin expression in lymphocyte-depleted cutaneous graft-versus-host reaction. Arch Argent Dermatol 48:139–142

    Google Scholar 

  39. Saurat JH (1981) Cutaneous manifestations of graft-versus-host disease. Int J Dermatol 20:249–256

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Paquet P et Piérard GE (1987) Erythema multiforme and toxic epidermal necrolysis.A comparative study. Am J Dermatopathol 19:127–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Akosq AB, Elhag AM (1995) Toxic epidermal necrolysis. A study of the sweat glands. J Cutan Pathol 22:359–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Drijkoningen M, De Wolf-Peeters C, Tricot G, Degreef H, Desmet V (1988) Drug-induced skin reactions and acute cutaneous graft-versus-host reaction: a comparative immunohisto chemical study. Blood 56:69–73

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Sloane J, Thomas J, Imrie S, Easton D, Powlers R (1984) Morphological and immunohistological changes in the skin in allogeneic bone marrow recipients. J Clin Pathol 37:919–930

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Dreno B, Milpied N, Harousseau J, et al. (1986) Cutaneous immunological studies in the diagnosis of acute graft-versus-host disease. Br J Dermatol 114:7–15

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Lever R, Turbitt M, Mackie R (1986) A prospective study of the histological changes in the skin in patients receiving bone marrow transplants. Br J Dermatol 114:161–170

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Elliott C, Sloane J, Pallett C, Sanderson K (1988) Cutaneous leucocyte composition after human allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: relationship to marrow purging, histology and clinical rash. Histopathology 12:1–16

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Paller S, Nelson A, Steffen L, Gottschalk L, Kaiser H (1988) T-lymphocyte subsets in the lesional skin of allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplant patients. Arch Dermatol 124:1795–1801

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Volc-Platzer B, Rappersberger K, Mosberger I, et al. (1988) Sequential immunohistologic analysis of the skin following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. J Invest Dermatol 91:162–168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Girolomoni G, Pincelli C, Zambruno G, et al. (1991) Immunohistochemistry of cutaneous graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. J Dermatol 18: 314–323

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Sviland L, Pearson A, Green M, et al. (1991) Immunopathology of early graft-versus-host disease: a prospective study of skin, rectum, and peripheral blood in allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplant recipients. Transplantation 52:1029–1036

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Leskinen R, Taskinen E, Volin L, Ruutu T, Häyry P (1992) Immunohistology of skin and rectum biopsies in bone marrow transplant recipients. APMIS 100:1115–1122

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Takeda H, Mitsuhashi Y, Kondo S, Koto Y, Tajima K (1987) Toxic epidermal necrolysis possibly linked to hyperacute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. J Dermatol 24:635–641

    Google Scholar 

  53. Horn TD, Haskell J (1998) The lymphocytic infiltrate in acute cutaneous allogeneic graft-versus-host reactions lacks evidence for phenotypic restriction in donor-derived cells. J Cutan Pathol 25:210–214

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Lampert IA, Janossy G, Suitters A, Bofill M, Palmer S, Gordon-Smith E, Prentice HG, Alero Thomas J (1982) Immunological analysis of the skin in graft versus host disease. Clin Exp Immunol 50:123–131

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Acevedo A, Aramburu J, Lopez J, Fernandez-Herrera J, Fernandez-Ranada J, Lopez-Botet M (1991) Identification of natural killer (NK) cells in lesions of human cutaneous graft-versus-host disease: expression of a novel NK-associated surface antigen (Kp43) in mononuclear infiltrates. J Invest Dermatol 97:659–666

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Merot Y, Gravallese E, Grullen F, Murphy G (1986) Lymphocyte subsets and Langerhans cells in toxic epidermal necrolysis. Arch Dermatol 122:455–458

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Heng MCY, Allen S (1991) Efficacy of cyclophosphamide in toxic epidermal necrolysis. J Am Acad Dermatol 25:7789786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Miyauchi H, Hosokawa H, Akaeda T, Iba H, Asada Y (1991) T-cell subsets in drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis. Arch Dermatol 127:851–855

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Villada G, Roujeau JC, Clerici T, Bourgault I, Revuz J (1992) Immunopathology of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Arch Dermatol 128:50–53

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Correia O, Delgado L, Ramos J, Resende C, Fleming Torrinha JA (1993) Cutaneous T-cell recruitment in toxic epidermal necrolysis. Arch Dermatol 129:466–468

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Friedmann P, Strickland E, Permohamed M, Park K (1994) Investigation of mechanisms in toxic epidermal necrolysis induced by carbamazepine. Arch Dermatol 130:598–604

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Paquet P, Nikkels A, Arrese J, Vanderkelen A, Piérard GE (1994) Macrophages and tumor necrosis factor-a in toxic epidermal necrolysis. Arch Dermatol 130:605–608

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Friedman HZ, Acias AM, Catchatourian R, Fretzen D (1984) Toxic epidermal necrolysis following bone marrow transplantation. Cutis 34:158–162

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Roujeau JC, Dubertret L, Moritz D (1985) Involvement of macrophages in toxic epidermal necrolysis. Br J Dermatol 113:425–430

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Paquet P, Piérard GE (1999) Epidermal calprotectin in drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis. J Cutan Pathol 26:301–305

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Pimpinelli N, Romagnoli A, Alberto B, Santucci M, Mori M, Guidi S Gianotti B (1993) Dendritic cells in the skin after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: immunohistochemical and electron microscopy monitoring. Eur J Dermatol 3:310–317

    Google Scholar 

  67. Murphy GF, Merot Y, Tang ALF (1985) Depletion and repopulation of epidermal dendritic cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in humans. J Invest Dermatol 84: 210–214

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Perreault C, Pelletier M, Landry D, Gyger M (1995) Study of Langerhans’ cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Blood 63:807–811

    Google Scholar 

  69. Norton J, Sloane JP (1991) ICAM-1 expression on epidermal keratinocytes in cutaneous graft-versus-host disease. Transplantation 53:1518–1523

    Google Scholar 

  70. Dumler J, Beschorner W, Farmer E, DiGennaro K, Saral R, Santos G (1989) Endothelial cell injury in cutaneous acute graft-versus-host disease. Am J Pathol 135:1097–1103

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Shen N, French P, Guyotat D (1994) Expression of adhesion molecules in endothelial cells during allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Eur J Haematol 52:29

    Google Scholar 

  72. Jack MK, Jack GM, Sale GE, Schulman HM, Sullivan KM (1983) Ocular manifestations of graft-versus-host disease. Arch Ophthalmol 101:1080–1084

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Peck GL, Herzig GP, Elios PM (1972) Toxic epidermal necrolysis in a patient with graft-versus-host reaction. Arch Dermatol 105:561–569

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Paquet, P., Arrese, J.E., Beguin, Y., Piérard, G.E. (2001). Clinicopathological Differential Diagnosis of Drug-Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (Lyell’s Syndrome) and Acute Graft-Versus-Host Reaction. In: Cerio, R. (eds) Dermatopathology. Current Topics in Pathology, vol 94. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59552-3_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59552-3_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-64024-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-59552-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics