A review of causes of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in children

Comparison of idiopathic and drug-induced epidermal necrolysis in children

In this monocentric retrospective study in a French paediatric reference centre, children with idiopathic epidermal necrolysis (EN) had more severe disease than those with drug-induced EN during the acute stage. In our study, no EN was attributed to infection.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Complications in Patients with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

INTRODUCTION

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and SJS/TEN overlap syndrome are rare severe hypersensitivity reactions that lead to epithelial sloughing. Studies investigating the chronic multisystem effects of these syndromes and assessing patients in terms of quality of life (QOL), depression, and anxiety in the pediatric population are limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the long-term effects of these diseases from a multisystem perspective.

METHOD

Sixteen pediatric patients diagnosed with SJS, TEN, and SJS/TEN overlap syndrome were evaluated between September 2020 and March 2021. Physical and eye examinations were performed. To evaluate QOL and psychological status, Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) were conducted. The patients' general characteristics, symptoms, and examination findings at their first admission were retrospectively obtained from the hospital's electronic records.

RESULTS

Nineteen percent of the patients were female (n = 3). There were 7 patients (44%) with the diagnosis of SJS, 5 patients (31%) with TEN, and 4 patients (25%) with SJS/TEN overlap. The median follow-up time of the subjects was 6.5 years. The most common sequelae in the chronic period were skin changes (n = 13, 81%). Hyperpigmentation was the most common skin change (n = 9, 56%). In the last evaluation, 9 cases had eye involvement. In two cases, eye examination was normal in the acute phase, while ocular involvement was present in the chronic period. In 4 (50%) patients, there was height and/or weight percentile loss. Three patients' SCARED scores and 2 patients' CDI scores were high. According to the CDLQI survey, SJS, TEN, or SJS/TEN overlap syndrome had a small to moderate effect on the QOL in the 43% (n = 6) of the patients. The ANA values of 3 patients (60%) were positive at the follow-up and negative at the first admission.

CONCLUSION

SJS, TEN, and SJS/TEN overlap syndrome may cause sequelae even after a long time of the onset of the disease. Patients' QOL and psychological status can be affected negatively. Ocular symptoms may develop in the follow-up, even without involvement in the acute period. Patients with SJS, TEN, and SJS/TEN overlap syndrome should be followed up in the chronic period and approached multidisciplinary.

NSAID Hypersensitivity in the Pediatric Population: Classification and Diagnostic Strategies

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequently administered drugs, mainly for their anti-pyretic, but also for pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects in children. NSAIDs are composed of structurally divergent subgroups of drugs with similar pharmacological and adverse effects. Aspirin originates from salicin and was the first synthesized analgesic. As a prototype of NSAIDs; aspirin-induced hypersensitivity reactions were first reported, but subsequently, other phenotypes of hypersensitivity reactions were also described with aspirin and other NSAIDs. There are certain challenging aspects of NSAID-hypersensitivity in the pediatric population that need to be further investigated. These include the effect of age on drug metabolism and the natural history of the various phenotypes of NSAID-hypersensitivity, the effect of certain co-factors (infections, exercise) on NSAID-hypersensitivity, and diagnostic clinical and laboratory biomarkers clarifying the endotypes. In recent years, a non-negligible number of case series, studies and expert panel reports have been published in this field with some novel features and diagnostic modalities in the pediatric population. With the current review; the clinical phenotypes and diagnostic and management modalities of suspected NSAID-induced hypersensitivity reactions in childhood and adolescence were explained and updated by examining past and current publications.

Management of Drug-Induced Epidermal Necrolysis (DEN) in Pediatric Patients: Moving from Drug-Induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Overlap and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis to a Single Unifying Diagnosis of DEN

Pediatric Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare but life-threating blistering diseases triggered by medications that affect the skin and mucosae. Drug-induced epidermal necrolysis is a better term for medication-triggered cases because there is a spectrum of disease severity that otherwise is divided into the separate entities of SJS, overlap SJS/TEN, and TEN. This manuscript reviews the management of drug-induced epidermal necrolysis (DEN), including diagnosis, investigations to exclude differential diagnoses, and treatment. Diagnosis of DEN relies on clinical features and a detailed medication history. The primary differential diagnosis is reactive infectious mucocutaneous eruption, which can be clinically distinguished by its disproportionate mucous membrane involvement relative to (sparse or absent) skin lesions. Identification and discontinuation of culprit medications is the mainstay of treatment of DEN. Early initiation of immunomodulatory therapy may prevent progression, reducing maximal disease severity and the risk of sequelae. A checklist approach to detailed management of DEN is proposed.

Clinical features and outcomes in children with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening cutaneous conditions. However, studies of pediatric SJS/TEN are limited. To investigate the causes, clinical course, outcomes and complications of SJS and TEN in children. This retrospective study included 47 pediatric patients (aged < 18 years) with SJS, SJS/TEN, or TEN treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, between January 2009 and December 2019. ALDEN scores and serological tests were used to assess causes and SCORTEN scores were applied to evaluate disease severity. Forty-seven patients, including 30 with SJS, 6 with SJS/TEN, and 11 with TEN were included. Median age was 8 years (range 1-17 years); 51.1% were male. Thirty-three cases (70.2%) were caused by drugs and infectious pathogens were suspected in 14 cases (29.8%). Oxcarbazepine (5/47, 10.6%) and amoxicillin (5/47, 10.6%) were the most often-implicated drugs, and Mycoplasma infection (9/47, 19.1%) was the predominant infectious cause. Only one TENS patient died (mortality rate 1/47, 2.1%) due to septic shock with ARDS, acute renal failure and cardiopulmonary shock. Median hospital stay was 15.5 (3-42) days. Pulmonary involvement (2/39, 5.1%), including pneumonia and ARDS, was noted in acute stage. Long-term sequelae were ocular involvement (6/39, 15.4%), nail dystrophy (4/39, 10.3%) and post-inflammatory hypo-/hyperpigmentation (3/39, 7.7%). In the present study, pediatric patients with SJS, SJS/TEN, or TEN have good outcomes with few long-term complications and low mortality. Mycoplasma is the most common infectious cause in pediatric SJS/TEN. Ocular discomfort, nail dystrophy and skin dyschromia are common long-term sequelae requiring regular follow-up.

Drug-Induced Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions: Insights Into Clinical Presentation, Immunopathogenesis, Diagnostic Methods, Treatment, and Pharmacogenomics

SCARs are rare and life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions. In general, the increased duration of hospital stays and the associated cost burden are common issues, and in the worst-case scenario, they can result in mortality. SCARs are delayed T cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. Recovery can take from 2 weeks to many months after dechallenging the culprit drugs. Genetic polymorphism of the HLA genes may change the selection and presentation of antigens, allowing toxic drug metabolites to initiate immunological reactions. However, each SCARs has a different onset latency period, clinical features, or morphological pattern. This explains that, other than HLA mutations, other immuno-pathogenesis may be involved in drug-induced severe cutaneous reactions. This review will discuss the clinical morphology of various SCARs, various immune pathogenesis models, diagnostic criteria, treatments, the association of various drug-induced reactions and susceptible alleles in different populations, and the successful implementation of pharmacogenomics in Thailand for the prevention of SCARs.

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis associated with COVID‐19 infection: A case report

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis/Steven–Johnson Syndrome (TEN/SJS) is one of the most serious dermatological adverse reactions triggered mainly by drugs and less likely by infections. COVID‐19 disease is caused by Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Skin involvement is common in COVID‐19 patients including urticaria, purpura, and vasculitis. There were reported cases of TEN/SJS in adults with COVID‐19 infections and only two reported cases in pediatric patients. The causality relationship between COVID‐19 infection and TEN/SJS was not established in most cases due to history of drug usage that could be the trigger. In this study, we are reporting a case of previously healthy child apart from COVID‐19 infection who was admitted to the intensive care unit with TEN involving more than 30% of body surface area confirmed by skin biopsy. The child was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins, steroids, and cyclosporin with a very good outcome.

A Comprehensive Review of HLA and Severe Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions: Implication for Clinical Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) encoded by the HLA gene is an important modulator for immune responses and drug hypersensitivity reactions as well. Genetic polymorphisms of HLA vary widely at population level and are responsible for developing severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs) such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), maculopapular exanthema (MPE). The associations of different HLA alleles with the risk of drug induced SJS/TEN, DRESS and MPE are strongly supportive for clinical considerations. Prescribing guidelines generated by different national and international working groups for translation of HLA pharmacogenetics into clinical practice are underway and functional in many countries, including Thailand. Cutting edge genomic technologies may accelerate wider adoption of HLA screening in routine clinical settings. There are great opportunities and several challenges as well for effective implementation of HLA genotyping globally in routine clinical practice for the prevention of drug induced SCARs substantially, enforcing precision medicine initiatives.

Antishear therapy for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: a follow-up study

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS/TEN) are life-threatening conditions best approached with multidisciplinary burn-equivalent care. There is a lack of consensus on wound management, in particular whether to debride detached epidermis. Our center instituted "antishear" wound therapy thirty-five years ago, where detached skin is left in situ as a biologic dressing and a standardized protocol avoids shear forces to prevent further desquamation. Our center's initial results showed outcomes comparable to SCORTEN predictions, but advancements in burn critical care necessitate a re-evaluation of the antishear approach. A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients admitted between 06/2004 to 05/2020 with a dermatologist-confirmed diagnosis of SJS/TEN (N=51). All patients were treated with burn-equivalent critical care and antishear wound therapy. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated using the established SCORTEN, and newly developed ABCD-10, prediction models. Mean SCORTEN, ABCD-10, and %TBSA were 2.6, 2.0, and 28%. Overall mortality was 22%; SCORTEN score (p<0.001), ABCD-10 score (p<0.01), %TBSA involved (p=0.02), and development of multi-system organ failure (p<0.001) correlated with increased mortality. Cohort-wide standardized mortality based on ABCD-10 was 1.18 (p=0.79). Standardized mortality based on SCORTEN was 0.62 (p=0.20) and 0.77 (p=0.15) for patients with scores ≤3 and >3; across the cohort it was 0.71 (p=0.11), representing a 29% mortality reduction. Incorporating the antishear approach as part of burn-equivalent care for SJS/TENS led to outcomes comparable to those predicted for surgical debridement via SCORTEN. However, the antishear approach has the advantage of avoiding painful dressing changes, sedation, and general anesthesia required for surgical debridement.

Delayed hypersensitivity to antiepileptic drugs in children

BACKGROUND

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are widely used for the treatment of epilepsy, but they can be associated with the development of mainly delayed/non-immediate hypersensitivity reactions (HRs). Although these reactions are usually cutaneous, self-limited, and spontaneously resolve within days after drug discontinuation, sometime HR reactions to AEDs can be severe and life-threatening.

AIM

This paper seeks to show examples on practical management of AED HRs in children starting from a review of what it is already known in literature.

RESULTS

Risk factors include age, history of previous AEDs reactions, viral infections, concomitant medications, and genetic factors. The diagnostic workup consists of in vivo (intradermal testing and patch testing) and in vitro tests [serological investigation to exclude the role of viral infection, lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), cytokine detection in ELISpot assays, and granulysin (Grl) in flow cytometry. Treatment is based on a prompt drug discontinuation and mainly on the use of glucocorticoids.

CONCLUSION

Dealing with AED HRs is challenging. The primary goal in the diagnosis and management of HRs to AEDs should be trying to accurately identify the causal trigger and simultaneously identify a safe and effective alternative anticonvulsant. There is therefore an ongoing need to improve our knowledge of HS reactions due to AED medications and in particular to improve our diagnostic capabilities.

Stevens Johnson syndrome: A review of a vision and life-threatening mucocutaneous disease including histopathology with updates on pathogenesis and genetic risk factors

BACKGROUND

The Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) spectrum of diseases are devastating blistering disorders involving mucosal surfaces with ocular sequelae that manifest particularly profound long-term morbidity. Advances in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing, genome-wide association studies, and both molecular and pharmacogenetics have helped clarify genetic susceptibility and characterize the iatrogenic risk of SJS for a given patient.

METHODS

A review of peer reviewed publications featured on PubMed pertaining to the clinical, pathologic, pharmacogenetic and molecular genetic features of SJS/TEN was conducted. Propose: To provide an in-depth clinicopathologic description of the ocular, ocular adnexal, and cutaneous findings in SJS/TEN, summarize pathogenesis and related conditions, and provide an update on the molecular genetic modifications that contribute to the phenotypic variations and genetic susceptibilities of SJS.

CONCLUSIONS

HLA subtyping and other genetic testing may eventually be valuable in the appropriate context to prevent the debilitating ocular sequelae of SJS, particularly as it relates to medication use.

Skin Testing for Penicillin Allergy: a Review of the Literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Self-reported penicillin allergies are frequently reported, though more than 95% of those are not truly allergic when challenged. These patients are more likely to receive alternative antibiotic regimens resulting in the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that may be less effective, more toxic, and/or more expensive than preferred agents. Given the significant burden on patient outcomes and the healthcare system, the ability to reconcile an allergy and broaden future antibiotic options is essential.

RECENT FINDINGS

This is a narrative review describing risk stratification for penicillin skin testing, practical advice for implementation, and future directions. A summary of studies within the last 5 years is provided. The trend over the past several years has been to offer oral drug challenges to low-risk patients and skin testing to high-risk patients with a reported penicillin allergy. This review provides support for risk stratification assessment of reported penicillin allergy to optimize antibiotic use and prevent emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Viral Infections and Cutaneous Drug-Related Eruptions

In the general population, up to 10% of children treated by antibiotics have cutaneous adverse drug reaction, but allergy is confirmed in less than 20% of patients. Most of the non-allergic reactions are probably due to virus, such as enterovirus acute infection or Ebstein-Barr Virus (EBV) acute infection or reactivation. Especially in children, viruses have the propensity to induce skin lesions (maculopapular rash, urticaria) due to their skin infiltration or immunologic response. In drug-related skin eruptions, a virus can participate by activating an immune predisposition. The culprit antibiotic is then the trigger for reacting. Even in severe drug-induced reactions, such as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, viruses take part in immune phenomena, especially herpes viruses. Understanding the mechanisms of both virus- and drug-induced skin reaction is important to develop our clinical reflection and give an adaptive care to the patient. Our aim is to review current knowledge on the different aspects and potential roles of viruses in the different type of drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR). Although major advances have been made those past year, further studies are needed for a better understanding of the link between viruses and DHR, to improve management of those patients.

A Systematic Review of Efficacy and Safety of Monotherapy and Combination Therapy With Biologic for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

BACKGROUND

Biologic drugs have the potential to halt the progression of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) by decreasing concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, a cytokine implicated in epithelial cell death. The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the efficacy and safety of biologic monotherapy and combination therapy for SJS/TEN.

METHODS

MEDLINE and EMBASE in OVID were searched on October 28, 2020. Inclusion criteria were original studies containing human participants diagnosed with SJS/TEN and treated with biologics. Studies were excluded if they were literature reviews, systematic reviews, letters to the editor, or conference abstracts.

RESULTS

The 38 articles reviewed included 27 (71.1%) case reports, 6 (15.8%) case series, 3 (7.9%) retrospective reviews, and 2 (5.3%) RCTs. The age range of the included studies was 2 to 85 years, the mean age was 46.4 years. The mean body surface (BSA) across the 38 included articles was 31.0%. The average actual mortality reported within the 38 included articles was 9.2%. Both biologic monotherapy and combination therapy were associated with improved outcomes in SJS/TEN. Furthermore, anti TNF-alpha therapy, specifically etanercept, showed improved outcomes as monotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, reviewed studies presented a strong case for biologic treatment, both monotherapy and combination use, in SJS/TEN treatment. Based on the number of fatal adverse events observed, biologic monotherapy may be safer compared to combination therapy. Further research with a larger sample size and a randomized control trial design is required.

Nevirapine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome in children living with HIV in South Africa

Background

Although adverse drug reactions resulting from the use of nevirapine (NVP) are well described in adults (estimated frequency of 6% - 10%), it has previously been considered less common in children (0.3% - 1.4%). Stock-outs of antiretroviral agents occur frequently in South Africa and result in interruptions in therapy and drug substitutions.

Objectives

To report on a case series of paediatric patients who suffered cutaneous drug reactions to NVP at rates not previously described in children.

Method

We describe a retrospective observational case series of six children living with HIV who developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) following exposure to NVP because of a prolonged stock-out of efavirenz 200 mg tablets in South Africa.

Results

Of the 392 paediatric patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at the institution, 172 were affected by the efavirenz stock-out. Of these, 85 children were changed to NVP of which six developed NVP-induced SJS (7.1% incidence rate). The median time between initiating NVP and developing symptoms was 27 days (range 12-35 days). All patients responded well to NVP cessation and symptomatic treatment. One patient was referred for specialist care. Two patients were successfully rechallenged with efavirenz after developing SJS and three continued lopinavir/ritonavir.

Conclusions

This is the second largest case series of NVP-induced SJS in children to date and raises the possibility that the incidence of SJS in children may be higher than previously described. Further research is required to explore the risk factors associated with NVP-induced SJS in children. This case series highlights the negative impact of drug stock-outs on patient health outcomes.

Investigating the association of Lamotrigine and Phenytoin-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis with HLA-B*1502 in Iranian population

Previous studies have found an association between HLA-B*1502 allele and lamotrigine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/ toxic epidermal necrosis (TEN) spectrum in Han Chinese populations. This study aims to investigate the association between HLA-B*1502 and lamotrigine- or phenytoin- induced SJS/TEN in an Iranian population. The medical records of twenty-eight lamotrigine-induced SJS/TEN patients and twenty-five lamotrigine-tolerant controls as well as eight phenytoin-induced SJS/TEN and twelve phenytoin-tolerant controls were extracted between March 2013 and March 2019 from the university hospitals in Mashhad, Iran. The presence of HLA-B*1502 allele was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among lamotrigine-induced patients with SJS/TEN, 11 (39.3%) patients tested positive for the HLA-B*1502 while only 3 (12.0%) of the lamotrigine-tolerant controls tested positive for this allele. The risk of lamotrigine-induced SJS/TEN was significantly higher in patients with HLA-B*1502, with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.74 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-19.73, p = 0.032]. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of HLA-B*1502 for lamotrigine-induced SJS/TEN was 39.29%, 88.00%, 78.57% and 56.41%, respectively. The HLA-B*1502 allele was present in 2 (25.0%) of phenytoin-induced SJS/TEN cases and 5 (41.7%) of the phenytoin-tolerant controls tested positive for HLA-B*1502 allele. The risk of phenytoin-induced SJS/TEN was not higher in the patients with HLA-B*1502 (OR = 0.467 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.065-3.34, p = 0.642]). Lamotrigine-induced SJS/TEN is associated with HLA-B*1502 allele in an Iranian population but this is not the case for phenytoin-induced SJS/TEN.

The use of biostatic human amnion and platelet-rich plasma in topical treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis-A case report

BACKGROUND

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) (also known as Lyell syndrome) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are life-threatening mucocutaneous blistering diseases. They are characterized by generalized blisters and epidermal inflammation, most likely resulting from the administration or interaction of medicines.

AIMS

To report potential new method in the treatment of TEN.

PATIENTS/METHODS

This article presents a case report of a 35-year-old man suffering from TEN covering about 95% of his body surface. Lesions occurred in the patient during antiepileptic therapy, after taking simultaneously amoxicillin (with clavulanic acid) and naproxen followed by lamotrigine treatment. Standard general treatment was performed. Intravenous feeding was necessary. Due to acute respiratory failure, the patient required mechanical ventilation. Two methods were combined in topical treatment: application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and a simultaneous biostatic human amnion transplant.

RESULTS

In the presented case, the combination of both methods contributed to a significant acceleration of wound healing. After the application of PRP and biostatic amnion transplantation, the healing of wounds on the back and posterior surfaces of the legs was completed after six days. The surgical treatment most probably contributed to a significant acceleration of wound healing.

CONCLUSION

The case report shows that topical TEN/SJS treatment with biostatic human amnion and PRP has a positive clinical effect and may be a new method of treatment of TEN.

Pediatric SJS-TEN: Where are we now?

Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are rare severe blistering skin reactions triggered by medications or infections. Over the last 5 to 10 years, a number of important publications have advanced understanding of these diseases and their response to treatment. Importantly, a subset of patients with disease triggered by infection has been identified as having Mycoplasma pneumoniae–induced rash and mucositis, suggesting a reconsideration of the diagnostic paradigm. We present an update on pediatric Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in the broader context of cutaneous adverse drug reactions and focus on challenges and recent advances in diagnosis, management, and prevention.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in pregnant patients: A systematic review

Background

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are two of the most severe dermatologic emergencies. Although pregnant women comprise a subset of individuals at risk for SJS and TEN development, little is known with regard to outcomes and treatment.

Objective

This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to characterize the risk factors, outcomes, and treatment of SJS and TEN in pregnant patients and newborns.

Methods

A primary literature search was conducted using PubMed in September 2019, using the following search terms entered in separate pairs: pregnant or pregnancy and stevens-johnson or SJS or toxic epidermal necrolysis. Reviews, studies in a language other than English, and articles not including pregnant patients were excluded.

Results

Twenty-six articles were included for review, including a total of 177 patients. The average maternal age for a reaction was 29.9 years, gestational age was 24.9 weeks, and time to reaction after drug initiation was 27.5 days. Approximately 85% of pregnant women in this review were infected with HIV. The most common causative medications were antiretroviral therapy (90% of all cases), antibiotics (3%), and gestational drugs (2%). Of the 94 cases in which outcome data were available, the survival rates of pregnant women and newborns after delivery were 98% and 96%, respectively. Withdrawal of the offending agent and supportive care was often sufficient for treatment, but antibiotics, steroids, and intravenous immunoglobulin were implemented in some cases. Complications included preterm labor, vaginal stenosis, and vaginal adhesions.

Conclusion

Given the predominance of studies focusing on the subset of pregnant patients who are infected with HIV, SJS and TEN is most commonly reported in young patients after antiretroviral therapy, primarily nevirapine. Overall mortality is lower than that of the general population, but similar to the expected mortality rates of younger adults. Early recognition and withdrawal of the offending agent is essential to mitigate the distinct consequences of these conditions in the pregnant population.

An unusual cause of Steven-Johnson Syndrome

SJS is a rare mucocutaneous syndrome characterized by skin and mucous detachment. The main etiological factors are drugs and infections; sometimes the cause remains unknown. In the prodromal phase we observed non-specific symptoms, followed by mucocutaneous manifestation. Due to risk of complications and mortality a multidisciplinary approach is needed.  We present a case of a girl with an atypical presentation of SJS related to Enterovirus.

A Case Study of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome-Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS-TEN) Overlap in Mycoplasma pneumoniae-Associated Tracheobronchitis

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a medical emergency which is characterized by skin and mucosal reaction to the use of certain drugs. Atypical Steven-Johnson syndrome can occur due to various microorganisms and Mycoplasma pneumoniae being one of them. We present a clinical course, diagnosis, and successful management of Steven-Johnson syndrome-toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS-TEN) overlap due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in a 17-year-old Nepalese female. In the resource-limiting country and hospitals where serology and PCR for M. pneumoniae is not easily accessible, a simple bedside cold agglutination test can be done to increase the suspicion of infectious cause (most common M. pneumoniae ) of SJS-TEN overlap. M. pneumoniae infection should be considered in all cases of mucositis, especially in patients having preceding respiratory tract infections (tracheobronchitis).

A Review of the Management of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis represent a spectrum of severe cutaneous adverse reactions that carry the potential for severe, long-term adverse effects, including death. Although medications are most commonly implicated in the development of these diseases, other factors, including infection and genetics, play a role. Management is generally supportive in nature and includes maintenance of the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation. Special disease considerations include the use of skin barrier management, unique infection prevention measures, and systemic immunomodulatory therapies.

Clinical features, outcomes and treatment in children with drug induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be considered a late-onset allergic reaction, can cause serious long-term sequelae. SJS/TEN are considered a spectrum of life-threatening adverse drug reactions. They have the same clinical manifestations and the only difference is in the extent of epidermal detachment. These conditions are associated with high mortality, although incidence of SJS/TEN is rare in children. SJS/TEN is an adverse drug reaction influenced by genes that involve pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and immune response. Infective agents are additional influencing factors. Anticonvulsants and antibiotics, and especially sulphonamides and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are among the drugs that were predominantly suspected of triggering SJS/TEN. No evidence-based standardized treatment guidelines for SJS or TEN are currently available. The usual treatment is mainly founded on the withdrawal of the suspected causative agent and supportive therapy. In pediatric patients, the specific therapeutic strategies are controversial and comprise systemic corticosteroids and the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). More recently, new therapeutic approaches have been used, such as immunosuppressive therapies, including cyclosporine and TNF-α inhibitors.

Drug-Induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Call for Optimum Patient Stratification and Theranostics via Pharmacogenomics

The Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative, a multinational coalition of genomic and policy experts working to implement genomics in clinical care, considers pharmacogenomics to be among the first areas in genomic medicine that can provide guidance in routine clinical practice, by linking genetic variation and drug response. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe life-threatening reactions to medications with a high incidence worldwide. Genomic screening prior to drug administration is a key opportunity and potential paradigm for using genomic medicine to reduce morbidity and mortality and ultimately eliminate one of the most devastating adverse drug reactions. This review focuses on the current understanding of the surveillance, pathogenesis, and treatment of SJS/TEN, including the role of genomics and pharmacogenomics in the etiology, treatment, and eradication of preventable causes of drug-induced SJS/TEN. Gaps, unmet needs, and priorities for future research have been identified for the optimal management of drug-induced SJS/TEN in various ethnic populations. Pharmacogenomics holds great promise for optimal patient stratification and theranostics, yet its clinical implementation needs to be cost-effective and sustainable.

Histopathology of Cutaneous Inflammatory Disorders in Children

Inflammatory dermatoses encompass a variety of histologic patterns that affect different portions of the skin. In spongiotic, psoriasiform, lichenoid, pityriasiform, and blistering disorders, there are predominately epidermal and junctional activities with variable superficial dermal inflammation. Hypersensitivity reactions can show either epidermal or mostly dermal changes depending on whether the exposure of the exogenous allergen occurs through an external or internal route, respectively. Exceptions include erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, where the etiology is often due to infection or ingested medications, but the histologic features are almost exclusively confined to the epidermis and dermoepidermal junction. Autoimmune disorders are unique in that lesions typically incorporate a mixture of epidermal and dermal inflammatory patterns with periadnexal inflammation, while the vast majority of vasculitis/vasculopathy and alopecia have changes limited to only the vessels and hair follicles, respectively. It is critical to recognize that a relatively limited number of histologic patterns are seen in a large array of clinical entities. Therefore, clinicopathologic correlation and careful examination of histologic details are of the utmost importance when evaluating skin biopsies for inflammatory disorders.

Delayed Cutaneous Hypersensitivity Reactions to Antibiotics: Management with Desensitization

Successful desensitization to mild to moderate delayed cutaneous adverse reaction to antibiotics has been described in a limited number of antibiotics and found to be safe. However, there are ample opportunities to standardize protocols for delayed cutaneous adverse reactions to antibiotics.

Genitourinary involvement and management in children with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

BACKGROUND

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are devastating hypersensitivity disorders that cause epidermal cell death and can affect all epidermal surfaces, including the urethra, vagina, labial and scrotal skin. Despite the well-described ocular and orofacial manifestations of SJS/TEN, there is a paucity of reports on the genitourinary (GU) symptoms and their management. Specifically, consulting services often ask the pediatric urology team if it is safe to place a urethral catheter, but there is no data in the literature to help guide management. The present study sought to review all pediatric cases of SJS/TEN in a tertiary care hospital to determine the incidence and optimal management of GU manifestations, including the use of urethral catheters.

METHODS

With IRB approval, cases of SJS and TEN that were managed as an inpatient between January 2008 and June 2015 were retrospectively reviewed in order to identify the extent of GU involvement/manifestations, the treatment provided, use of urethral catheterization and long-term follow-up or complications.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients (15 female, 16 male; age range 2-18 years) presented with SJS or TEN over the study period. Etiologies for SJS/TEN included mycoplasma infection (48%) and medications (45%). Incidences of GU manifestations at presentation and their management are shown in Summary Table. Overall, 74% of patients had genital involvement of skin lesions. In 12 cases (39%), urology consultation was obtained. Twenty patients (61%) complained of dysuria and one child had gross hematuria in the setting of meatal lesion. Petroleum jelly was used in the majority of patients. A urethral catheter was placed in eight patients (25.8%, four female, four male) with a range of duration of 7-23 days. No patient developed hematuria or any other complications (i.e. strictures or urinary symptoms) after catheter removal. One boy required lysis of penile adhesions in the short-term. One of each gender developed penile and labial adhesions on long-term follow-up that self-resolved.

CONCLUSIONS

GU involvement in SJS/TEN occurred in almost three-quarters of patients and was managed conservatively like other skin/mucosal manifestations. Long-term sequelae were rare and urethral catheterization appeared to be safe, without any short-term or long-term complications.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis in a child 6 months post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

TEN is a rare and critical disease mostly caused by drugs. It is mediated by activated CD8+ T cells that cause keratinocyte apoptosis with the assistance of cytokines/chemokines. We herein report a pediatric case of TEN after allogeneic HSCT with precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B-ALL) in second complete remission. Although we did not evaluate the T-cell subpopulation in blood or skin lesion of the patient, an imbalanced immune reconstitution after HSCT might additively contribute to the development of TEN.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated mucositis syndrome: A rare and clinically challenging disease in a Saudi child

Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated mucositis (MPAM) is an extra-pulmonary manifestation of M. pneumoniae infection and may present as isolated mucosal lesions (e.g., ocular, oral, and urogenital) or as a combination of mucosal and minimal cutaneous lesions. MPAM is a rare entity that lies on the spectrum of erythema multiform (EM) major and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). We present a 12-year-old boy who presented with classical clinical manifestations of MPAM and strongly positive M. pneumoniae PCR results. The patient was treated with antimicrobial therapy and had an uneventful recovery. Physicians should be aware of this rare entity and manage patients accordingly.

DRESS Syndrome: Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms

DRESS syndrome is a cutaneous and systemic drug reaction with severe complications and a long course that can be fatal. Recognition may be difficult, and the condition is just rare enough that clinicians will eventually see it but may not be familiar with it. This review will focus on key elements to help clinicians with the challenges of recognition and differential diagnosis.

Drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in children: 20 years study in a tertiary care hospital

BACKGROUND

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe lifethreatening skin conditions. The most common cause of these manifestations is medications. Beside discontinued of the culprit drug, systemic corticosteroids were used as a primary treatment option among pediatric population. This study aimed to explore causative drugs (drug group/ latent period), treaments, complications, and treatment outcome (morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay) of SJS and TEN in children.

METHODS

A retrospective chart was reviewed during the period of 1992 to 2012 at Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. SJS and TEN were clinically diagnosed and confirmed by pediatric dermatologists. Other possible causes other than druginduced SJS and TEN were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients was recorded, including 24 (80%) SJS patients and 6 (20%) TEN patients. The mean age was 6.9 years (SD 4.4). Male to female ratio was 1.5:1. Antiepileptic drug group was the most common causative drug (n=18, 60%), followed by antibiotic drug group (n=8, 26.6%), and others (n=4, 13.3%) which included nonsteroidal antiinflammtory drugs (NSAIDs) and chemotherapy drugs. Systemic corticosteroids were used in 29 patients (96.6%). Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in one TEN patient (3.3%). There was a medium correlation between time to treatment (systemic corticosteroids) and the length of hospital stay (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.63, P=0.005). Two TEN patients (6.6%) died.

CONCLUSIONS

Carbamazepine was the most common causative drug of SJS and TEN in our study. The severity of skin detachment is not correlated to severity of ocular findings. However, the persistent of ocular complications up to one year is suggested for promptly appropriate ocular treatment in all SJS and TEN patients. Our data suggested that early administration of systemic corticosteroid may reduce the length of hospital stay and should be considered for the treatment of pediatric druginduced SJS and TEN.

Antimicrobial activity of Nigerian medicinal plants

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is currently one of the major threats facing mankind. The emergence and rapid spread of multi- and pan-drug-resistant organisms (such as vancomycin-, methicillin-, extended-spectrum β-lactam-, carbapenem- and colistin-resistant organisms) has put the world in a dilemma. The health and economic burden associated with AMR on a global scale are dreadful. Available antimicrobials have been misused and are almost ineffective with some of these drugs associated with dangerous side effects in some individuals. Development of new, effective, and safe antimicrobials is one of the ways by which AMR burden can be reduced. The rate at which microorganisms develop AMR mechanisms outpaces the rate at which new antimicrobials are being developed. Medicinal plants are potential sources of new antimicrobial molecules. There is renewed interest in antimicrobial activities of phytochemicals. Nigeria boasts of a huge heritage of medicinal plants and there is avalanche of researches that have been undertaken to screen antimicrobial activities of these plants. Scientific compilation of these studies could provide useful information on the antimicrobial properties of the plants. This information can be useful in the development of new antimicrobial drugs. This paper reviews antimicrobial researches that have been undertaken on Nigerian medicinal plants.

Bibliometric analysis of literature on toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome: 1940 - 2015

Background

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare but fatal adverse skin reactions that affect all age groups. In order to better understand literature on this topic, we conducted a bibliometric study using Scopus database to shed light on number and growth of publications, most active countries, institutions, journals and authors involved in publishing articles in this field, citation analysis, top cited articles, international collaboration, role of medications and genetic association. Bibliometric analysis will enrich the literature on these rare conditions and will provide baseline data for future comparison.

Results

Three thousand eight hundred fifty-six journal articles were retrieved. The h-index of retrieved documents was 95. Growth rates of publications were highest from 1966 to 1975 and from 2006 to 2015. The United States of America (n = 640; 16.57%) was the leading country in number of publications. However, French and Japanese researchers and institutions were most active in publishing articles on SJS and TEN. International collaboration among active countries was relatively low and ranges from 32.5% for Swiss researchers and 1.47% for Spanish researchers. The most frequently mentioned medication in retrieved articles was carbamazepine (n = 146) followed by phenytoin (n = 114) and allopurinol (n = 112). Mycoplasma infection was mentioned in 111 articles. Most documents on SJS and TEN were published in dermatology journals, specifically Archives of Dermatology. However, in the last decade, top cited articles appeared in dermatology and pharmacogenetic journals. Carbamazepine was frequently encountered with Han Chinese and HLA-B 1502 terms while allopurinol was frequently encountered with HLA-B 5801 and Japanese terms.

Conclusion

Bibliometric analysis reveals that research publications on SJS and TEN have been increasing since the l940s, with relatively low international collaboration. Documents are being published, not only in dermatology journals, but also in genetic, public health and general medicine journals. Research on SJS and TEN can be helpful to clinicians and researchers not only to document complications and fatal outcomes, but also to identify potential causative agents and potential ethnic variations to note gaps in research.

Retrospective review of paediatric case reports of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis with lamotrigine from an international pharmacovigilance database

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to characterise paediatric reports with lamotrigine (LTG) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN), and to explore whether potential risk factors can be identified.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective review of suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports. Reported time from LTG start to SJS/TEN onset, indication for use and dose was explored. To identify potential risk groups, report features (eg, ages, patient sex, co-reported drugs) for LTG and SJS/TEN were contrasted with two reference groups in the same database, using shrinkage logOR.

SETTING

Reports were retrieved from VigiBase, the WHO global database of individual case safety reports, in January 2015.

PATIENTS

Data for patients aged ≤17 years old were extracted.

RESULTS

There were 486 reports of SJS/TEN in LTG-treated paediatric patients. Ninety-seven per cent of the cases with complete information on time to onset of SJS/TEN occurred within 8 weeks of initiation of LTG therapy. The median time to onset was 15 days (IQR: 10-22 days). The proportion of SJS/TEN with LTG and valproic acid (VPA) co-reporting was significantly more than non-cutaneous ADRs (43% vs 19%, (logOR: 1.60 (99% CI: 1.33 to 1.84)).

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that VPA co-medication with LTG therapy is a risk factor for SJS/TEN in the paediatric population. Although this relationship has been identified from individual case reports, this is the first supportive study from a large compilation of cases. SJS/TEN risk is highest in first 8 weeks of treatment with LTG in children and clinicians should be aware of this risk during this period.

Adverse drug reactions in Nigerian children: a retrospective review of reports submitted to the Nigerian Pharmacovigilance Centre from 2005 to 2012

BACKGROUND

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in children recorded in national pharmacovigilance databases in high-income countries have been analysed. Nigeria has a population of 31 million children and became a member of the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring in 2004 since when it has been submitting reports of suspected ADRs to the WHO Global Individual Case Safety Report database, VigiBase.

OBJECTIVE

To gain information on reported ADRs in Nigerian children aged 0-17 years in VigiBase from 2005 to 2012.

METHODS

The data were analysed for annual reports, age and sex of patients, type of reporters, suspected drugs and adverse reactions. The most commonly reported ADRs and suspected drugs were ranked, and drugs associated with the fatalities were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 297 reports of 473 ADRs in 297 children were received from doctors, pharmacists, other health-care professionals and consumers during the period. ADRs were most frequently reported for anti-retrovirals (74, 24%), antibiotics (71, 23%) and anti-malarials (60, 20%). The most frequently reported ADRs were rash (15.2%), fever (10.3%) and pruritus (6.8%). Anti-infective agents were responsible for more than half of the reports. Twenty-one children (7%) died, eight from acute renal failure. Seven of the cases of acute renal failure were associated with contaminated paracetamol/diphenhydramine hydrochloride and herbal medicines used for teething problems. In the majority of cases, the products were contaminated with diethylene glycol. There were 14 cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, three of which were fatal.

CONCLUSION

Anti-infective agents (antibiotics, anti-malarials and anti-retrovirals) were associated with a majority of the ADRs. Stevens-Johnson syndrome was the most frequent severe ADR. Some of the fatalities were associated with sub-standard and herbal medications.