Stevens–Johnson Syndrome and Herpes Simplex Type 1 Infection during Adalimumab Therapy for Crohn’s Disease

• Published in: Case reports in gastrointestinal medicine Vol. 2020; no. 2020; pp. 1 - 3
• Main Authors: Tarocchi, Mirko, Milani, Stefano, Galli, Andrea, Milla, Monica, Macrì, Giuseppe, Mello, Tommaso, Apolito, Pasquale, Parisio, Laura, Lynch, Erica Nicola, Innocenti, Tommaso, Roselli, Jenny, Biagini, Maria Rosa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 2020; Hindawi; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adalimumab; Antiviral agents; Care and treatment; Case Report; Case reports; Complications and side effects; Dermatology; Development and progression; Drug dosages; Gastroenterology; Herpes simplex; Herpes viruses; Immunotherapy; Infection; Infections; Internal medicine; Monoclonal antibodies; Patients; Pruritus; Rheumatoid arthritis; Skin; Skin diseases; Stevens-Johnson syndrome; TNF inhibitors
• ISSN: 2090-6528; 2090-6536
• DOI: 10.1155/2020/3875024

Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe mucocutaneous adverse drug reaction with a relatively high mortality rate. SJS is described during herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) infection and, rarely, even during adalimumab therapy. We report the case of a patient with Crohn’s disease who developed SJS during an HSV1 infection and a contemporaneous anti-TNFα therapy with adalimumab. Remission was achieved with suspension of adalimumab and high doses of intravenous steroids and antivirals. Patients with HSV1 infection and on adalimumab therapy have a combined risk of SJS and should be monitored closely.