Severe Physical Complications Among Survivors of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

October 2017 in “ Drug Safety ”

Cristina Olteanu, Neil H. Shear, Hall F. Chew, Rena Hashimoto, Raed Alhusayen, Sonia Whyte-Croasdaile, Yaron Finkelstein, Marjorie Burnett, Michael Ziv, Shachar Sade, Marc G. Jeschke, Roni P. Dodiuk‐Gad

Stevens-Johnson syndrome toxic epidermal necrolysis post-inflammatory skin changes cutaneous scars dry eyes symblepharon chronic ocular surface inflammation chronic fatigue pruritus mucous membranes hair loss SJS TEN skin changes scars eye inflammation fatigue itching

TLDR SJS/TEN survivors often have severe, overlooked long-term physical problems that are not properly treated after leaving the hospital.

The study investigated the long-term physical complications in 17 survivors of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) over an average follow-up period of 51.6 months. It found that survivors commonly experienced post-inflammatory skin changes (77%), cutaneous scars (46%), dry eyes (44%), symblepharon, and chronic ocular surface inflammation (33% each). Chronic fatigue was reported by 76% of participants, pruritus by 53%, and a significant association was observed between the number of mucous membranes affected during the acute phase and subsequent hair loss, with 88% of those with three or more affected mucous membranes experiencing hair loss. Despite these complications, only 59% of patients were followed by a dermatologist and 6% by an ophthalmologist after discharge. The study concluded that SJS/TEN survivors suffer from severe and often under-recognized physical complications that are not adequately treated post-discharge.

View this study on link.springer.com →