Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: what do we know?
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are rare but severe cutaneous adverse reactions related to a variety of medications. Although rare, SJS and TEN have a significant impact on public health because of high mortality. Also, if the SJS/TEN physiopathology is still unclear, a specific immune response to one or more drugs is involved, constituting a form of delayed-type hypersensitivity. Patients with SJS/TEN are often critically ill; therefore, they must be admitted to hospitals capable of delivering critical care. Currently, no treatment modality has been established as standard for these patients; therefore, therapy is primarily supportive and symptomatic and involves a multidisciplinary approach.
Tartarone
Alfredo
A
Division of Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata, IRCCS Rionero in Vulture, PZ, Italy. tarta1@virgilio.it
Lerose
Rosa
R
D016638:Critical Illness; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy