Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) in an elderly with comorbidities A case report

Background: In Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), age has been reported to be not only a risk factor but also associated with increased mortality. The presence of underlying illness and comorbidities also increased the burden of TEN in elderly patients. Case: A-70-years old male patient was consulted with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis and skin detachment. Symptoms started since four weeks before admitted to the hospital with redness in the face and extremities that spread to the chest and back accompanied by fever and malaise. The patient also complained of a wound in the lips and genitalia. Physical examination found multiple erosion, geographical shape, varied in size with positive nickolsky sign. The detachment covered 40% of the body surface area. From the laboratory, a result found a decrease in hemoglobin, blood glucose, albumin, and potassium. The patient was diagnosed with TEN, treated in the burn care unit, given supportive care and intravenous dexamethasone 10 mg every 8 hours, and then tapered off. The mortality rate from SCORTEN count was 12,1%. Discussion: The incidence and mortality of TEN were higher in the elderly than among younger adults. Supportive care was the key feature of management with various adjunctive therapy, including systemic corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and other immunosuppressant agents. Giving more comorbidities, more observation, and a multidisciplinary approach for TEN in elderly patients might be needed. Conclusion: In the elderly, the risk and mortality of TEN were even higher, and the presence of comorbidities require more observation and supportive care. Keywords: toxic epidermal necrolysis, elderly, comorbidities