Coma blisters in a case of fatal theophylline intoxication.

A case of fatal poisoning caused by theophylline toxicity (serum level 127 micro g/ml) is presented. At external examination, skin blisters on regions exposed to pressure were distinctive. Histologic examination demonstrated subepidermal bullae with eosinophilic necrosis of the eccrine sweat gland coil but no epidermal necrosis, vascular changes, or inflammatory infiltrate. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of coma blisters in a case of theophylline intoxication.