A series of 90 consecutive cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) observed in a single center between 1985 and March 1991 was compared to a previous series from the same institution in order to look for changes in the characteristics of the patients and in the drug etiology. The most salient change was the high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among patients with TEN (20/90). This high rate of HIV infection was linked to two other changes: higher number of male patients leading to an equilibrated sex ratio and an increased role of sulfonamides – mainly sulfadiazine – as etiologic agents.