Hypersensitivity reaction to carbamazepine presenting with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy generalized dermatitis and bone marrow granulomas

ABSTRACT

A 29-year-old Saudi woman was admitted to the medical unit at King Khalid University Hospital with a history of generalized erythematous and vesicular skin rash, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. She was a known epileptic receiving carbamazepine treatment for the last 2 years. The lymph node biopsy showed features of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy. The bone marrow trephine biopsy revealed the presence of small non-caseating epitheloid granulomas and her skin showed features of exfoliative and vesicular dermatitis. The histological features are described and discussed in addition to a detailed review of the literature and a comparison with other reported cases is made