title: Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for children with Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the experience with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) in our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  All charts of patients with SJS admitted to Children's Hospital between November 1988 and June 1998 were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients with SJS were detected. There were 8 males and 4 females, with a mean age 6 years (range 10 mo to 17 yrs). All patients presented with high fever and cutaneous and mucous membrane changes, and the diagnosis SJS was confirmed by a dermatologist. Of the 12 patients with SJS, 7 were treated with IVIG, 2 with corticosteroids, and 3 with supportive care. IVIG was administered in a single infusion at 1.5-2 g/kg, and was given on an average of hospital day 3 (range 1-8 days). The average duration of fever was 8 days (range 3-14) in the IVIG treated patients compared to 14 days (range 6-20) in the non-IVIG treated group (p = 0.06). The mean hospital stay was 12 days (range 4-22) for the patients treated with IVIG and 15 days (range 6-25) for the non-IVIG treated group (p = 0.5). No toxicity was observed with IVIG therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Duration of fever was shortened in patients treated with IVIG, although statistical significance was marginal. The hospital stay was slightly shortened in patients treated with IVIG; however, statistical significance was not reached. Prospective and controlled, multicenter studies are needed to further investigate these preliminary findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Dermatology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, and Children's Hospital of New Orleans, USA.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Morici
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Galen
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lebouef
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Gouri
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gedalia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous