title: Severe eye complications from Stevens-Johnson syndrome in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient in Malawi.
abstract: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe form of erythema multiforme that primarily affects skin and mucous membranes. In Malawi, manifestations of SJS may become more common in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) because the CD4 cell threshold for starting ART has increased from 250 to 350 cells/μL. We describe a patient with severe ocular complications from SJS that developed soon after initiation of nevirapine-based ART and cotrimoxazole preventive treatment, which led to blindness. We draw attention to preventive measures that can potentially reduce permanent ocular damage from SJS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. mssoculus@web.de
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulze Schwering
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kayange
authors.forename: Joep J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Oosterhout
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Spitzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology