The much awaited forensic reports of Heena Khan, the 28-year old woman who had suffered from Stevens-Johnson syndrome after consuming drugs prescribed by a local practitioner from Kalyan for cough and cold, are out. The reports have been furnished from the KEM Hospital’s laboratory Saturday.
Though the reports don’t give a concrete stand, they say that there is possibility of the patient getting affected by the Moxifloxacin tablet administered on October 10, which may have sensitised the patient to content in the drug called fluroquinolone, and the next fluoroqinolone dose administered by the doctor on November 21 may have precipitated the reaction.
However, according to the report, the only way to confirm the possibility of such involvement is administering the patient again with the drug which can be life threatening and not recommended.
The report says that the clinical photographs submitted (three in numbers) shows clinical features suggestive that the patient was suffering from toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which is a more severe counterpart of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. It mentions that TEN is an idiosyncratic hypersensitivity reaction that occurs due to intake of anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsants, anti-tuberculosis, antibiotic to antiviral drugs.
According to a senior plastic surgeon from Masina Hospital, TEN is a condition, which exists in continuum with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, but the only difference is the amount of skin affected. “When less than 10 per cent of the skin is affected it is known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, however when more than 30 per cent of the area is involved it is known as TEN,” said the doctor, requesting anonymity.
The report also states that on studying the prescription submitted, the possibility of either of the drugs Moxifloxacin and Ofloxacin could be responsible for the reaction.
The forensic department has, however, not been able to clarify if Ms Khan had a drug allergy or skin disease because a sample was given three weeks after the rash occurred.“We will wait for reports from other departments which will then be floated in other offices before we come to a conclusion,” said investigating officer of the case Raju Nalavade.
