Generalized exfoliative skin rash as an early predictor of supratherapeutic voriconazole trough levels in a leukemic child: A case report

Document Type : Case report

Authors

1 Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Medical Imaging Research Center, Department of Radiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Department of Hematopathology, Molecular Pathology and Cytogenetics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

4 Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, USA

5 Persian Bayan Gene Research and Training Center, Shiraz, Iran

6 Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

7 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Skin rashes, mostly seen in children and adolescents, are considered among the most common side effects of azole antifungals. Although therapeutic concentrations of voriconazole (VCZ) have been documented for infected skin, there is no evidence specifying whether specific dermatologic side effects could predict high VCZ serum concentration, especially in high-risk leukemic children.
Case report: Herein, we report a unique skin side effect of VCZ in a 5-year-old boy with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) referred to Amir Medical Oncology Center in Shiraz, Iran. The patient experienced erythroderma and macular rashes shortly after VCZ consumption, leading to generalized exfoliative skin rashes. Concurrent to these skin manifestations, VCZ serum concentration reached the supratherapeutic levels despite the recommended VCZ doses. As a result, VCZ was withheld, and the patient was treated with caspofungin. The lesions were resolved gradually within 2 weeks, and the patient successfully completed his treatment course with caspofungin.
Conclusion: The unique case presented in this study emphasizes the need for a high index of suspicion for VCZ toxicity in any patient with atypical dermatologic manifestations, especially generalized exfoliative skin rashes. Based on this report, VCZ supratherapeutic concentration could be predicted early in the course of treatment. Additional therapeutic dose monitoring should be considered to establish a confirmatory diagnosis. It is required to further investigate the toxic effect of high VCZ concentration on the skin epithelium.
 
 

Keywords

References

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Current Medical Mycology
Volume 6, Issue 3
September 2020
Pages 73-78

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History

  • Receive Date: 23 June 2020
  • Revise Date: 28 September 2020
  • Accept Date: 05 October 2020
  • First Publish Date: 05 October 2020

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