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Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)

By

Julia Benedetti

, MD, Harvard Medical School

Reviewed/Revised Apr 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are two forms of the same life-threatening skin disorder that cause rash, skin peeling, and sores on the mucous membranes.

  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are commonly caused by drugs or infections.

  • Typical symptoms for both diseases include peeling skin, fever, body aches, a flat red rash, and blisters and sores on the mucous membranes.

  • Affected people are typically hospitalized in a burn unit and given fluids and sometimes drugs, and all suspected drugs are stopped.

Skin peeling is the hallmark of these conditions. The skin peeling involves the entire top layer of the skin (the epidermis), which sometimes peels off in sheets from large areas of the body ( see Structure and Function of the Skin Structure and Function of the Skin The skin is the body’s largest organ. It serves many important functions, including Protecting the body against trauma Regulating body temperature Maintaining water and electrolyte balance Sensing... read more Structure and Function of the Skin ).

  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome causes only small areas of peeling skin (affecting less than 10% of the body).

  • Toxic epidermal necrolysis causes large areas of peeling skin (affecting over 30% of the body).

  • Involvement of 15 to 30% of body surface area is considered overlap of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

In both forms, blistering of the mucous membranes typically occurs in the mouth, eyes, and vagina and sometimes in the digestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts.

Both disorders can be life threatening.

About half the cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and nearly all the cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis are caused by a reaction to a drug, most often sulfa and other antibiotics; antiseizure drugs, such as phenytoin and carbamazepine; and certain other drugs, such as piroxicam or allopurinol. Some cases are caused by a bacterial infection, vaccination, or graft-versus-host disease Graft-versus-host disease Transfusions are given to increase the blood's ability to carry oxygen, restore the amount of blood in the body (blood volume), and correct clotting problems. Transfusions are usually safe,... read more . Sometimes, a cause cannot be identified. In children with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, an infection is the most likely cause.

These disorders occur in all age groups. These disorders are more likely to occur in people with an abnormal immune system, such as those with a bone marrow transplant, systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory connective tissue disorder that can involve joints, kidneys, skin, mucous membranes, and blood vessel walls. Problems in the... read more Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) , other chronic joint and connective tissue diseases, or with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a viral infection that progressively destroys certain white blood cells and is treated with antiretroviral medications. If untreated, it can cause... read more Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection (particularly when people also have pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii). The tendency to develop one of these disorders can run in families.

Symptoms of SJS and TEN

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis usually begin with fever, headache, cough, keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva and the cornea in the eyes), and body aches. If caused by a drug, these symptoms usually appear 1 to 3 weeks after the start of the drug. Then the skin changes begin, with a flat red rash on the face, neck, and trunk, often spreading later to the rest of the body in an irregular pattern. The areas of rash enlarge and spread, often forming blisters in their center. The skin of the blisters is very loose and easy to rub off, often with just a gentle touch or pull, and the blisters peel off over a period of 1 to 3 days. The affected areas are painful, and the person feels very ill with chills and fever. In some people, the hair and nails fall out. The palms and soles may be affected.

In both disorders, sores appear on the mucous membranes lining the mouth, throat, anus, genitals, and eyes. The damage to the lining of the mouth makes eating difficult, and closing the mouth may be painful, so the person may drool. The eyes may become very painful and swell and become so crusted that they seal shut. The corneas can become scarred. The opening through which urine passes (urethra) may also be affected, making urination difficult and painful. Sometimes the mucous membranes of the digestive and respiratory tracts are involved, resulting in diarrhea and cough, pneumonia, and difficulty breathing.

The extensive skin loss in toxic epidermal necrolysis is similar to a severe burn and is equally life threatening. People are very ill and may be unable to eat or open their eyes. Huge amounts of fluids and salts can seep from the large, raw, damaged areas. People who have this disorder are very susceptible to organ failure. They are also at risk of infection at the sites of damaged, exposed tissues. Such infections are the most common cause of death in people with this disorder.

Diagnosis of SJS and TEN

  • A doctor's evaluation

  • Sometimes a skin biopsy

Doctors can usually diagnose Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis by the appearance of the affected skin and mucous membranes, by their symptoms (pain rather than itching), by how quickly the skin manifestations progress, and by how much of the skin is affected.

Prognosis for SJS and TEN

In toxic epidermal necrolysis, the death rate can be as high as 25% in adults and can be even higher in older adults with very severe blistering. The death rate in children is estimated to be under 10%.

In Stevens-Johnson syndrome, the death rate is about 5%.

Treatment of SJS and TEN

  • Treatment in a burn center or intensive care unit

  • Possibly cyclosporine, corticosteroids, plasmapheresis, immune globulin, or immunosuppressants

People with Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis are hospitalized. Any drugs suspected of causing either disorder are immediately discontinued. When possible, people are treated in a burn center or intensive care unit and given scrupulous care to avoid infection (see Severe burns Severe burns Burns are injuries to tissue that result from heat, electricity, radiation, or chemicals. Burns cause varying degrees of pain, blisters, swelling, and skin loss. Small, shallow burns may need... read more Severe burns ). If the person survives, the skin grows back on its own, and, unlike burns, skin grafts are not needed. Fluids and salts, which are lost through the damaged skin, are replaced by vein (intravenously).

Use of drugs to treat these disorders is controversial because, although there are theoretical reasons why certain drugs might be helpful, none have clearly been shown to improve survival. Cyclosporine may lessen the duration of active blistering and peeling and possibly increase the survival rate. Some doctors believe that giving large doses of corticosteroids within the first few days is beneficial, whereas others believe they should not be used because they might increase the risk of serious infection. If infection develops, doctors give antibiotics immediately.

Doctors may do a plasmapheresis Apheresis In apheresis, blood is removed from a person and then returned after substances are removed from it. Apheresis can be used to Obtain healthy blood components from a donor to transfuse to a person... read more . During this procedure, the person's blood is removed, and the plasma is separated from the blood and discarded. This procedure removes certain harmful substances from the blood, possibly including drugs and antibodies (immune system proteins) that could be causing either disorder. After the substances are removed, the blood cells are returned to the person.

Doctors may give intravenous human immune globulin to treat toxic epidermal necrolysis. This substance may help prevent further damage to skin cells.

Drugs called immunosuppressants may be given. Immunosuppressants weaken (suppress) the immune system and help keep it from attacking the body's own tissues. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–inhibiting drugs are a type of immunosuppressant. TNF inhibitors, such as infliximab and etanercept, are given to people with Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis to help suppress the immune process that is causing inflammation.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Dilantin, Dilantin Infatabs, Dilantin-125, Phenytek
Carbatrol, Epitol , Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol -XR
Feldene
Aloprim, Zyloprim
Cequa, Gengraf , Neoral, Restasis, Sandimmune, SangCya, Verkazia, Vevye
AVSOLA, INFLECTRA, Remicade, RENFLEXIS, Zymfentra
Enbrel
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