Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis
What is Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis?
Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) is a severe skin reaction most often triggered by particular medications. Although Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis were once thought to be separate conditions, they are now considered part of a continuum. Stevens-Johnson syndrome represents the less severe end of the disease spectrum, and toxic epidermal necrolysis represents the more severe end.
SJS/TEN often begins with a fever and flu-like symptoms. Within a few days, the skin begins to blister and peel, forming very painful raw areas called erosions that resemble a severe hot-water burn. The skin lesions usually start on the face and chest before spreading to other parts of the body. In most affected individuals, the condition also damages the mucous membranes, including the lining of the mouth and the airways, which can cause trouble with swallowing and breathing. The painful blistering can also affect the urinary tract and genitals. SJS/TEN often affects the eyes as well, causing irritation and redness of the conjunctiva, which are the mucous membranes that protect the white part of the eye and line the eyelids, and damage to the clear front covering of the eye (the cornea).
Severe damage to the skin and mucous membranes makes SJS/TEN a life-threatening disease. Because the skin normally acts as a protective barrier, extensive skin damage can lead to a dangerous loss of fluids and allow infections to develop. Serious complications can include pneumonia, overwhelming bacterial infections (sepsis), shock, multiple organ failure, and death. About 10 percent of people with Stevens-Johnson syndrome die from the disease, while the condition is fatal in up to 50 percent of those with toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Among people who survive, long-term effects of SJS/TEN can include changes in skin coloring (pigmentation), dryness of the skin and mucous membranes (xerosis), excess sweating (hyperhidrosis), hair loss (alopecia), and abnormal growth or loss of the fingernails and toenails. Other long-term problems can include impaired taste, difficulty urinating, and genital abnormalities. A small percentage of affected individuals develop chronic dryness or inflammation of the eyes, which can lead to increased sensitivity to light (photophobia) and vision impairment.
How common is Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis?
SJS/TEN is a rare disease, affecting 1 to 2 per million people each year. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (the less severe form of the condition) is more common than toxic epidermal necrolysis.
People who are HIV-positive and those with a chronic inflammatory disease called systemic lupus erythematosus are more likely to develop SJS/TEN than the general population. The reason for the increased risk is unclear, but immune system factors and exposure to multiple medications may play a role.
What genes are related to Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis?
Several genetic changes have been found to increase the risk of SJS/TEN in response to triggering factors such as medications. Most of these changes occur in genes that are involved in the normal function of the immune system.
The genetic variations most strongly associated with SJS/TEN occur in the HLA-B gene. This gene is part of a family of genes called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex. The HLA complex helps the immune system distinguish the body's own proteins from proteins made by foreign invaders (such as viruses and bacteria). The HLA-B gene has many different normal variations, allowing each person's immune system to react to a wide range of foreign proteins. Certain variations in this gene occur much more often in people with SJS/TEN than in people without the condition.
Studies suggest that the HLA-B gene variations associated with SJS/TEN cause the immune system to react abnormally to certain medications. In a process that is not well understood, the drug causes immune cells called cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells to release a substance called granulysin that destroys cells in the skin and mucous membranes. The death of these cells causes the blistering and peeling that is characteristic of SJS/TEN.
Variations in several other HLA and non-HLA genes have also been studied as potential risk factors for SJS/TEN. However, most people with genetic variations that increase the risk of SJS/TEN never develop the disease, even if they are exposed to drugs that can trigger it. Researchers believe that additional genetic and nongenetic factors, many of which are unknown, likely play a role in whether a particular individual develops SJS/TEN.
The drugs most frequently associated with SJS/TEN include several medications that are used to treat seizures (particularly carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and phenytoin); allopurinol, which is used to treat kidney stones and a form of arthritis called gout; a class of antibiotic drugs called sulfonamides; nevirapine, which is used to treat HIV infection; and a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) called oxicams. Other factors may also trigger SJS/TEN. In particular, these skin reactions have occurred in people with an unusual form of pneumonia caused by infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and in people with viral infections, including cytomegalovirus. Researchers suspect that a combination of infections and drugs could contribute to the disease in some individuals. In many cases, no definitive trigger for an individual's SJS/TEN is ever discovered.
Read more about the HLA-B gene.
How do people inherit Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis?
SJS/TEN is not an inherited condition. However, the genetic changes that increase the risk of developing SJS/TEN can be passed from one generation to the next.
Where can I find information about diagnosis or management of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis?
These resources address the diagnosis or management of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis and may include treatment providers.
- Genetic Testing Registry: Stevens-Johnson
syndrome - Genetic Testing Registry: Toxic epidermal
necrolysis
You might also find information on the diagnosis or management of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis in Educational resources and Patient support.
General information about the diagnosis and management of genetic conditions is available in the Handbook. Read more about genetic testing, particularly the difference between clinical tests and research tests.
To locate a healthcare provider, see How can I find a genetics professional in my area? in the Handbook.
Where can I find additional information about Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis?
You may find the following resources about Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis helpful. These materials are written for the general public.
- MedlinePlus - Health information (8 links)
- Genetic and Rare Diseases Information
Center - Information about genetic conditions and rare diseases - Additional NIH Resources - National Institutes of Health
- Educational resources - Information pages (7 links)
- Patient support - For patients and families (3 links)
You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for healthcare professionals and researchers.
- Genetic Testing Registry - Repository of genetic test information (2 links)
ClinicalTrials.gov - Linking patients to medical researchPubMed - Recent literatureOMIM - Genetic disorder catalog
What other names do people use for Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis?
- drug-induced Stevens Johnson syndrome
- Lyell's syndrome
- mycoplasma-induced Stevens Johnson syndrome
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome toxic epidermal necrolysis spectrum
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
For more information about naming genetic conditions, see the Genetics Home Reference Condition Naming Guidelines and How are genetic conditions and genes named? in the Handbook.
What if I still have specific questions about Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis?
Where can I find general information about genetic conditions?
The Handbook provides basic information about genetics in clear language.
- What does it mean if a disorder seems to run in my family?
- What are the different ways in which a genetic condition can be inherited?
- If a genetic disorder runs in my family, what are the chances that my children will have the condition?
- Why are some genetic conditions more common in particular ethnic groups?
These links provide additional genetics resources that may be useful.
What glossary definitions help with understanding Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis?
allopurinol ; alopecia ; arthritis ; bacteria ; blister ; carbamazepine ; chronic ; class ; cornea ;erythema ; fever ; gene ; genitals ; gout ; HIV ; HLA ; hyperhidrosis ; immune system ; infection ;inflammation ; inherited ; kidney ; kidney stones ; leukocyte ; mucous ; pharmacogenetics ;pharmacogenomics ; photophobia ; pigmentation ; pneumonia ; population ; risk factors ; sensitivity ;sepsis ; shock ; spectrum ; syndrome ; toxic
You may find definitions for these and many other terms in the Genetics Home Reference Glossary.
See also Understanding Medical Terminology.
References (7 links)
The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Users seeking information about a personal genetic disease, syndrome, or condition should consult with a qualified healthcare professional. See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? in the Handbook
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