[Lyell's syndrome: a report of 16 cases].
BACKGROUND
Lyell's syndrome (SL) or toxic epidermal necrolysis is a rare mucocutaneous eruption, which is characterised by an acute necrosis of the totality of the epidermis +/- the mucosal epithelium. This is a serious affection considering the severity of systemic manifestations, the unpredictable evolution, and the absence of specific therapy.


OBJECTIVE
To assess epidemiological and clinical features of this condition in our departments.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study concerning the cases of Lyell's syndrome carried in the dermatology and the intensive care department of Farhat Hached hospital over a 26 year period.


RESULTS
We listed 12 women and 4 with a mean age of 48.9 years. Epidermal detachment varied between 26 and 80% of the body surface and mucus were involved in 87.5% of cases. Systemic manifestations were noted in 11 patients. A drug etiology was found in 87,5% of cases, half of which was due to antibiotics.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are similar to those in the literature. Our study illustrates the severity of this toxiderma with a high mortality rate (43.75% of cases), conformable with what was predicted by the severity-of-illness score "SCORTEN". Infectious complications were the principal cause of death.
Boussofara
Lobna
L
Faculté de Médecine de Sousse, Service de dermatologie, CHU Farhat Hached.
Maalaoui
Houneida
H
Mebazaa
Amel
A
Ghariani
Najet
N
Denguezli
Mohamed
M
Belajouza
Colandane
C
Nouira
Rafia
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy