Ophthalmic complications and management of Stevens-Johnson syndrome at a tertiary eye care centre in south India.
OBJECTIVE
To review the possible aetiological factors, ocular complications and their management in patients of Stevens-Johnson syndrome with ocular involvement, seen at a tertiary eye care centre.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome seen between 1987-1998 at L V Prasad Eye Institute. The demographic and possible aetiological factors data causing Stevens-Johnson syndrome were collected. The details of the ocular examination and treatment were collected and examined to determine the pattern of presentation, complications, treatment response and outcome.


RESULTS
A total of 95 patients, 40 males (42.10%) and 55 females (57.89%), were identified during the 11-year period. A majority of the patients (n = 53; 55.78%) were between 20 and 40 years of age. All patients had bilateral involvement and most (n = 93; 97.89%) had bilateral symmetrical presentation. The duration from the onset of symptoms to the time of presentation at the institute varied from 6 days to 18 years with most patients presenting after one year (n = 39; 41.05%). The most commonly identified possible causative factor was drugs (n = 55; 51.89%). No definitive cause was identified in 37 (38.94%) patients, and 3 (3.15%) patients had a history of viral fever preceding the onset of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The best corrected visual acuity at initial presentation was 6/12 or better in 32 (33.68%) patients. Lid abnormalities were observed in 87 (91.51%) patients, conjunctival abnormalities in 92 (96.84%) and corneal complications in 93 (97.89%). All patients were managed medically and 26 (27.36%) patients underwent surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Stevens-Johnson syndrome remains an important cause of severe visual loss and ocular morbidity, both of which significantly affect the quality of life. Not many medical or surgical options are available even in tertiary eye-care centres. Future advances in immune modulation techniques may prevent many of the sequelae that continue to occur despite the best possible medical care.
Kompella
Viswanadh B
VB
Cornea Service, L V Prasad Eye Institute, L V Prasad Marg, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad-500 034, India.
Sangwan
Virender S
VS
Bansal
Aashish K
AK
Garg
Prashant
P
Aasuri
Murali K
MK
Rao
Gullapalli N
GN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity