Toxic epidermal necrolysis Part I. Introduction, history, classification, clinical features, systemic manifestations, etiology, and immunopathogenesis

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a life-threatening, typically drug-induced mucocutaneous disease. It is clinically characterized as a widespread sloughing of the skin and mucosa, including both external and internal surfaces. Histologically, the denuded areas show full thickness epidermal necrosis. The pathogenic mechanism involves antigenic moiety/metabolite, peptide-induced T cell activation, leading to keratinocyte apoptosis through soluble Fas ligand, perforin/granzyme B, tumor necrosis factor-alfa, and nitric oxide. Recent studies have implicated granulysin in toxic epidermal necrolysis apoptosis and have suggested that it may be the pivotal mediator of keratinocyte death.