title: Skin allograft in the treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  TEN is a severe form of exfoliative dermatitis. Its course is acute and its outcome fatal in 40% of cases. Wound cover to prevent fluid/protein loss and infections and to control pain, is the first step, as for burns. Skin allograft can be successfully used for this purpose.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report two cases of TEN with de-epithelialization of 50 and 70% of the total body surface area. The patients were given support therapy and treated with human glycerol-preserved skin allografts for wound cover.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were grafted with glycerol-preserved donor skin, obtained from a skin bank.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Re-epithelization of treated areas was complete in 8 days; pain relief was obtained soon after the graft.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glycerol-preserved skin allograft is an effective treatment in extensive skin loss, for its barrier and analgesic effect. Quality standards of this product ensure safety and simplicity of use at limited cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Bank, Siena, Italy. pianigianie@unisi.it
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pianigiani
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ierardi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taddeucci
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perotti
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biagioli
authors.forename: Francesca Cherubini
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Di Simplicio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andreassi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fimiani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D000667:Ampicillin; D011899:Ranitidine; D005990:Glycerol