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Eritema multiforme

Last reviewed: 16 Aug 2025
Last updated: 18 Oct 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presencia de factores de riesgo
  • lesiones en diana de las extremidades
  • episodio anterior de EM
  • erosiones mucosas
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • otras lesiones dianiformes
  • inicio rápido de las lesiones
  • evolución autolimitada
  • vesículas agrupadas sobre una base eritematosa
  • roncus, estertores y/o sibilancias
  • membranas timpánicas rojas
Full details

Risk factors

  • episodio previo de eritema multiforme
  • infección por virus herpes simple (VHS)
  • algunas otras infecciones
  • Infección por mycoplasma pneumoniae
  • linfoma
  • Enfermedad de Kawasaki
  • uso de determinados medicamentos
  • vacunaciones
  • tatuajes
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • diagnóstico clínico
Full details

Tests to consider

  • biopsia con hematoxilina y eosina
  • biopsia para inmunofluorescencia
  • hemograma completo (HC)
  • electrolitos séricos
  • serología para virus herpes simple (VHS)
  • reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) rápida
  • serología por hemaglutinación en frío
  • títulos de M pneumoniae
  • radiografía del tórax (RT)
  • Títulos de autoanticuerpos
Full details

Emerging tests

  • anticuerpos antidesmoplaquina

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

EM menor

EM mayor

ONGOING

EM recurrente

Contributors

Authors

Nathan W. Rojek, MD, FAAD

Assistant Professor

Director, Inpatient Dermatology

Department of Dermatology

University of California, Irvine

Irvine

CA

Disclosures

NWR declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Nathan W. Rojek would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Areta Kowal-Vern, Dr Jonathan Silverberg, and Dr Nanette Silverberg, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

AK-V, JS, and NS declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Cristine Radojicic, MD

Staff Physician

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland

OH

Disclosures

CR declares that she has no competing interests.

Brian Swick, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor

University of Iowa College of Medicine

Iowa City

IA

Раскрытие информации

BS declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

Список литературы

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Основные статьи

Lerch M, Mainetti C, Terziroli Beretta-Piccoli B, Harr T. Current perspectives on erythema multiforme. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2018 Feb;54(1):177-84. Abstract

Grünwald P, Mockenhaupt M, Panzer R, et al. Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis - diagnosis and treatment. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2020 Jun;18(6):547-53. Abstract

Soares A, Sokumbi O. Recent updates in the treatment of erythema multiforme. Medicina (Kaunas). 2021 Sep 1;57(9):921.Full text  Abstract

de Risi-Pugliese T, Sbidian E, Ingen-Housz-Oro S, et al. Interventions for erythema multiforme: a systematic review. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 May;33(5):842-9. Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Eritema multiforme images
  • Differentials

    • Urticaria
    • Erupción polimorfa lumínica (PMLE)
    • Lupus eritematoso cutáneo subagudo
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Erythema multiforme
    • Diagnosis and treatment of adults with community-acquired pneumonia
    More Guidelines
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