An Epidemiological Study of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis during 2010-2015 at Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran

The Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are two ends of the spectrum of severe immunobullous state characterized by keratinocyte apoptosis. The present study aimed to draw attention to various epidemiological features of SJS and TEN diseases such as causative drugs, underlying diseases, duration of hospitalization, and types of treatment. The records of all patients with the diagnosis of SJS, TEN, and SJS/TEN overlap during 2010-2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The records belonged to patients who were admitted to the Dermatology Tertiary Referral Center of Shahid Faghihi Hospital affiliated to the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
From a total of 97 patients with such skin disorders, we identified SJS in 89 (91.8 %), TEN in 5 (5.1%), and SJS/TEN overlap in 3 (3.1%) patients. The most commonly consumed drug was Lamotrigine (21.6%) and the most common drug category was anticonvulsants (46.4%). In line with many studies, especially in Iran, Lamotrigine and anticonvulsant drugs were the most common causative drug and epilepsy was the most common underlying disease. Patients with SJS/TEN overlap or TEN were treated with combination therapy, whereas SJS patients received systemic corticosteroids.