Toxic epidermal necrolysis. A step forward in treatment.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis is an uncommon but severe form of epidermal sloughing with associated mucositis. Treated in a general hospital, it carries a high mortality (25% to 70%) and substantial long-term morbidity. If the patient is referred early to a burn center, where it can be treated with biologic dressings and intensive support care, the mortality can be reduced below 20% and there may be negligible long-term morbidity. We describe 19 patients so treated, with three deaths and no long-term complications.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001684:Biological Dressings; D002053:Burn Units; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D014861:Washington