Vemurafenib-Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: An Emerging Adverse Event

• Main Authors: Ana Filipe Monteiro, Margarida Rato, César Martins
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Portuguesa de Dermatologia e Venereologia 2018-10-01
• Series: Revista da Sociedade Portuguesa de Dermatologia e Venereologia
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects; Melanoma/drug therapy; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/etiology; Vemurafenib
• Online Access: https://revista.spdv.com.pt/index.php/spdv/article/view/926

Vemurafenib, a selective inhibitor of the BRAF V600 mutation, is Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approved for the treatment of stage IV metastatic melanoma alone or in combination. Among the adverse effects, cutaneous toxicity is the most common. Most of these reactions such as maculopapular rash, photosensitivity and hyperkeratotic lesions are manageable, and the majority of patients are able to continue therapy. However, a few cases of life-threatening severe cutaneous adverse reactions have been reported and drug withdrawal is mandatory in these cases. Herein, we report a case of vemurafenib- -induced toxic epidermal necrolysis in a patient receiving therapy for metastatic melanoma. After several hospital complications, our patient survived to the drug-induced reaction and he is in remission for 2 years.