Toxic epidermal necrolysis and Steven Johnson syndrome: 11-years experience and outcome

G. Gravante, D. Delogu*, M. Marianetti**, M. Trombetta*, G. Esposito**, A. Montone**

General Surgery Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata – Rome (Italy)
*Department of Pharmacology, University “La Sapienza” of Rome – Rome (Italy)
**Burn Centre, S. Eugenio Hospital – Rome (Italy)

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• Dermatology

Abstract. – Background and Objective: Toxic epidermal necrolysis and Steven Johnson syndrome are rare diseases that usually follow drug-exposures. The authors present one retrospective study with their management and focus their retrospective analysis on finding prognostic factors.
Materials and Methods: We reviewed charts of admitted patients from January 1995 to December 2005. Only those with an histologic-proved diagnosis were included in the study. Causative drugs, symptoms, management and outcome were recorded and analysed.
Results: We found 32 patients that met inclusion criteria. Mortality rate was 34.4% (11/32). Age, delay of referral, Total Burn Surface Area, white blood cells, creatinine, blood sodium, immunoglobulins therapy and more than two different types of blood bacterial species isolated were significantly correlated with death (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These data confirm prognostic factors already present in literature and find that the number of different bacterial species isolated from blood increase mortality. Further prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings. Corresponding Author: Gianpiero Gravante, MD; e-mail: ggravante@hotmail.com

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