[Toxic epidermic necrolysis]. / Necrólisis epidérmica tóxica.

BACKGROUND: Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a dermatological disease that evolves with an elevated mortality. Our objective was to show the utility of a nonconventional treatment for toxic epidermal necrolysis in place of conventional treatment where the mortality is <50 %. With this suggested treatment, mortality is 0 %. METHODS: This is a prospective and descriptive study presenting the case of 12 patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis. Diagnosis was made by history of drug ingestion, clinical presentation and skin biopsy, which was corroborated by light microscopy. RESULTS: Twelve patients were treated with heparin, dypiridamol, potassium permanganate, methylcellulose, respiratory therapy treatments and early peritoneal dialysis for stabilization in one patient who development acute renal failure. All patients recovered between 20 and 25 days after the beginning of the disease with a mortality of 0%. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between intravascular coagulation and TEN is corroborated by mediators of the inflammatory reaction that can trigger multiple organ dysfunction. By using anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs at an early stage, the inflammatory response can be avoided as demonstrated in our group of patients.