Venue: Internal Medicine Department,
Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, Nigeria
June 2023.
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Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
1. STEVEN JOHNSON
SYNDROME (SJS) AND TOXIC
EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS
(TEN)
BY
DR. SUAME PRECIOUS MATTHEW
Venue: Internal Medicine Seminar Room,
Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, Nigeria
June 2023.
3. Introduction
The acute life threatening condition is characterized by epidermal
sloughing and mucositis secondary to extensive keratinocytic
apoptosis.
They can be distinguished from Erthema Multiforme varying only in
the area of involvement of skin surface.
4. Brief history
The syndrome was first described in 1922, when the American
pediatricians Albert Mason Stevens and Frank Chambliss Johnson
reported the cases of 2 boys aged 7 and 8 years with "an
extraordinary, generalized eruption with continued fever, inflamed
buccal mucosa, and severe purulent conjunctivitis." Both cases had
been misdiagnosed by primary care physicians as hemorrhagic
measles.
5. Epidermiology
The incidence rate is 2-7 cases per million population per year.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been described worldwide in all races,
although it may be more common in whites.
Women more commonly affected than men, 2:1 occurrence ratio.
Interestingly, the disease is not limited to humans; cases have been
reported in dogs, cats, and monkeys.
SJS occurs with a worldwide distribution similar in etiology and
occurrence to that in the United States. However, a study from
Germany reported only 1.1 cases per 1 million person-years. Cases
have been reported in children as young as 3 months.
6. Classification
The only difference between them is degree of skin involvement with
SJS involving less than 10% of total body surface while TEN involving
more than 30%. Overlapping Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic
epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) Detachment of 10-30% BSA.
8. Etiology
Various etiologic factors have been implicated as causes of Stevens-
Johnson syndrome.
Drugs most commonly are blamed. The 4 etiologic categories are as
follows:
Infectious
Drug-induced
Malignancy-related
Idiopathic.
9. Drug induced
Antibiotics are the most common cause of Stevens-Johnson
syndrome, followed by analgesics, NSAIDs, psycholeptics, and
antigout drugs. antibiotics, penicillins and sulfa drugs are prominent;
ciprofloxacin has also been reported.
10. Drug induced
The following anticonvulsants have been implicated:
Phenytoin
Carbamazepine
Oxcarbazepine
Valproic acid
Lamotrigine
Barbiturates
11. Drug induced
Antiretroviral drugs implicated in Stevens-Johnson syndrome include
nevirapine and possibly other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase
inhibitors.
Indinavir(a protease inhibitor) has been mentioned.
12. Drug induced
Stevens-Johnson syndrome has also been reported in patients taking
the following drugs:
Allopurinol
Mirtazapine
TNF-alpha antagonists
Sertraline
Pantoprazole
Tramadol
13. Infectious cause
Viral diseases that have been reported to cause Stevens-Johnson
syndrome include the following:
Herpes simplex virus
AIDS
Coxsackie viral infections
Influenza
Hepatitis
Mumps
14. Infectious cause
Bacterial etiologies include the following:
Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci
Diphtheria
Brucellosis
Lymphogranuloma venereum
Mycobacteria
Mycoplasma pneumonia
Rickettsial infections
Tularemia
Typhoid
15. Infectious cause
Possible fungal causes include: coccidioidomycosis, dermatophytosis
and histoplasmosis. Malaria and trichomoniasis have been reported
as protozoal causes.
16. Genetic factors
There is strong evidence for a genetic predisposition to severe
cutaneous adverse drug reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome
and TEN. Carriage of certain human leukocyte antigens has been
associated with increased risk.
18. Pathophysiology
Pathogenesis is often associated with type III hypersensitivity
reactions (immune complex reaction) induced by soluble complexes
of antigen or its metabolites with IgM and IgG antibodies and
delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions (hypersensitivity reactions
type IV is a reaction that is mediated by specific T lymphocytes).
19. Pathophysiology
Antigen presentation and production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-
alpha by the local tissue dendrocytes results in the recruitment and
augmentation of T-lymphocyte proliferation and enhances the
cytotoxicity of the other immune effector cells. A "killer effector
molecule" has been identified that may play a role in the activation of
cytotoxic lymphocytes.
The activated CD8+ lymphocytes, in turn, can induce epidermal cell
apoptosis via several mechanisms, which include the release of
granzyme B and perforin.
20. Pathophysiology
The death of keratinocytes causes separation of the epidermis from
the dermis.
Once apoptosis ensues, the dying cells provoke the recruitment of
more chemokines.
This can perpetuate the inflammatory process, which leads to
extensive epidermal necrolysis.
21. Clinical presentation
Typically begins with a nonspecific upper respiratory tract infection. This usually is
part of a 1-14 day prodrome during which fever, sore throat, chills, headache, and
malaise may be present. Vomiting and diarrhea are occasionally noted as part of
the prodrome. Mucocutaneous lesions develop abruptly. Clusters of outbreaks
last from 2-4 weeks. The lesions are typically nonpruritic.
24. Clinical presentation
Ocular:
Conjunctivitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, iritis, iridocyclitis, eyelid
edema, in severe cases erosion and perforation of the cornea that can
lead to blindness. Ocular mucosa injury is the trigger that causes
ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, a chronic inflammation of the ocular
mucosa which causes blindness.
Foreign body sensation.
Decreased vision.
25. Burn sensation
Photophobia
Diplopia
The time required from onset until the occurrence of ocular cicatricial
pemphigoid vary from a few months to 31 years.
27. Clinical presentation
The rash can begin as macules that develop into papules, vesicles,
bullae, urticarial plaques, or confluent erythema. The center of these
lesions may be vesicular, purpuric, or necrotic.
The typical lesion has the appearance of a target; this is considered
pathognomonic. these lesions have only two zones of color. The core
may be vesicular, purpuric, or necrotic; that zone is surrounded by
macular erythema.
Lesions may become bullous and later rupture, leaving denuded skin.
The skin becomes susceptible to secondary infection.
31. Clinical presentation
The following signs may be noted on examination:
Fever
Tachycardia
Hypotension
Altered level of consciousness
Epistaxis
Conjunctivitis
Corneal ulcerations
Erosive vulvovaginitis or balanitis
Seizures
Coma
34. Investigations
There are no specific laboratory studies that can definitively establish
the diagnosis of Stevens Johnson syndrome.
Serum levels of the following are typically elevated in patients with
Stevens-Johnson syndrome:
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha
Soluble interleukin 2-receptor
Interleukin 6
C-reactive protein
However, none of these serologic tests is used routinely in diagnosing
and managing Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
36. Investigations
Renal function: microalbuminuria, renal tubular enzymes in urine,
reduced glomerular filtration, rising creatinine and urea,
hyponatremia
Pulmonary function: bronchial mucosal sloughing on bronchoscopy,
interstitial infiltrates on chest x-ray
37. Treatment
Management of patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome is usually
provided in intensive care units or burn units. No specific treatment
for as the disease is usually self-limiting; therefore, most patients are
treated symptomatically.
38. Treatment
General Care of a patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal
necrolysis includes:
Cessation of the suspected causative drug(s).
Fluid replacement (crystalloid)
Nutritional assessment: may require nasogastric tube feeding
Temperature control: warm environment, emergency blanket
Pain relief
Supplemental oxygen and in some cases, intubation with mechanical
ventilation
Sterile/ aseptic handling
39. Treatment
Skin care requires daily examination of skin and mucosal surfaces for
infection,
Use of non-adherent dressings, and avoidance of trauma to the skin.
Gentle removal of necrotic skin/mucosal tissue.
Culture of skin lesions, axillae, and groins every two days.
Manage oral lesions with mouthwashes.
Address tetanus prophylaxis.
40. Treatment
Antibiotics may be required for secondary infection but are best
avoided prophylactically.
It is unknown whether systemic corticosteroids are beneficial, but
they are often prescribed in high doses for the first three to five days
of admission.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may be of benefit in
patients with severe neutropenia.
Other drugs reported effective include, ciclosporin, TNF-alpha
inhibitors, N-acetylcysteine, and intravenous immunoglobulins. Their
role remains controversial.
41. Treatment
Treatment of acute ocular manifestations usually begins with
lubrication of the ocular surface.
As inflammation and cicatricial changes ensue, most ophthalmologists
use topical steroids, antibiotics, and symblepharon lysis.
42. Prognosis
Individual lesions typically should heal within 1-2 weeks, unless
secondary infection occurs. Most patients recover without sequelae.
Mortality is determined primarily by the extent of skin sloughing.
When body surface area (BSA) sloughing is less than 10%, the
mortality rate is approximately 1-5%. However, when more than 30%
BSA sloughing is present, the mortality rate is between 25% and 35%,
and may be as high as 50%. Bacteremia and sepsis appear to play a
major role in increased mortality.
43. Prognosis
The SCORTEN score (a severity-of-illness score for toxic epidermal
necrolysis) calculates the risk for death on the basis of the following
variables:
Age >40 years
Malignancy
Heart rate >120
Initial percentage of epidermal detachment >10%
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level >10 mmol/L
Serum glucose level >14 mmol/L
Bicarbonate level < 20 mmol/L
44. Prognosis
Each variable is assigned a value of 1 point.
Mortality rates are as follows:
0-1 points, 3.2%
2 points, 12.1%
3 points, 35.3%
4 points, 58.3%
5 or more points, 90%
45. Prognosis
Other negative prognostic factors include: persistent neutropenia
(defined as neutropenia lasting more than 5 days), hypoalbuminemia
(usually < 2 g/dL), and persistent azotemia.
Survivors of Stevens-Johnson syndrome may experience numerous
long-term ocular sequelae due to cicatrization.
46. Complications
50% progress to severe ocular disease.
Ocular complications of Stevens-Johnson syndrome include the
following:
Chronic cicatrizing conjunctivitis
Corneal epithelial defects
Corneal stromal ulcers
Corneal perforation
Endophthalmitis
47. Complications
Other complications may include the following:
Esophageal strictures.
Renal tubular necrosis, renal failure, penile scarring, vaginal stenosis.
Respiratory failure.
Cutaneous Scarring and cosmetic deformity, recurrences of infection
through slow healing ulcerations.