Carbamazepine-induced erythema multiforme in two patients with bipolar disorder

ABSTRACT

Stevens-Johnson's syndrome [SJS], a severe form of erythema multiforme [EM],is an uncommon hypersensitive inflammatory reaction which could involve symmetrically multiple mucocutaneous areas of the body. It has been characterized by distinctive diagnostic criteria and carries a mortality of 1% to 15%. Two young male adult patients with bipolar disorder who during the course of manic-depressive illness developed SJS temporally caused by carbamazepine [CBZ] therapy are described and the most pertinent clinical issues are discussed. In light of this case report and a brief review of literature, twomain recommendations mechanisms not only underlying the mood disorders but also a spectrum of erythema multiforme. secondly for the purpose of prevention it is mandatory that clinicians must take a detailed history of carbamazepine [tegretol] sensitivity both from the mental patients and the most reliable key relatives before prescribing this drug to patients with mood disorder