[Lyell's syndrome occurring in three HIV-positive patients undergoing anti-tuberculous therapy].

We describe three cases of Lyell syndrome - toxic epidermal necrolysis - occurring in patients under the respiratory service of CHU de Cocody in Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, who were undergoing anti-tuberculous (TB) chemotherapy. All three were adult males who were HIV-positive, but none of them were receiving anti-retroviral treatment. They were on standard anti-TB treatment; rifampicin, isoniazid, pyazinamide and ethambutol. The lesions appeared early during their treatment for TB (14, 20 and 45 days). The patients were on no other medication that might have caused Lyell's syndrome except one who had been on cotrimoxasole for 6 months without complications. Despite admission to the acute care facility and appropriate care two of the three patients died. Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.