Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: what do we know?

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are rare but severe cutaneous adverse reactions related to a variety of medications. Although rare, SJS and TEN have a significant impact on public health because of high mortality. Also, if the SJS/TEN physiopathology is still unclear, a specific immune response to one or more drugs is involved, constituting a form of delayed-type hypersensitivity. Patients with SJS/TEN are often critically ill; therefore, they must be admitted to hospitals capable of delivering critical care. Currently, no treatment modality has been established as standard for these patients; therefore, therapy is primarily supportive and symptomatic and involves a multidisciplinary approach.