Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in an adult patient with T-lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Klinik fur Hamatologie/Onkologie, Universitatsklinikum Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. katrin.scheinpflug@med.ovgu.de
BACKGROUND: Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is an exfoliative dermatitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection. In contrast to infants, it is rarely observed in adults. SSSS in adults usually occurs in predisposed individuals such as those with renal failure or immunodeficiency, but has also been reported in otherwise healthy subjects. The reported mortality rate in adults is usually high because of serious underlying disease.
PATIENT AND METHODS: We report a case of SSSS in a young female patient with T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, who survived this potentially lethal complication.
CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of SSSS in an adult patient with T-lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Clinicians should be aware of SSSS as a rare but potentially fatal disorder, particularly in adult patients with malignancies undergoing aggressive chemotherapy.
Labels: Exfoliative dermatitis, Exfoliative toxins, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
