Chapter 177. Erythema Multiforme, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

A 14-year-old boy presents to the emergency department with a 1-day history of fever associated with lip swelling and peeling (Figure 177-1A). Within 48 hours he developed involvement of his ocular (Figure 177-1B) and urethral mucosa along with an erythematous papular rash on his trunk that spread to his extremities. In Figure 177-1C target lesions can be seen on the back. He was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and admitted to the hospital.

Erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are skin disorders thought to be types of hypersensitivity reactions (undesirable reactions produced by a normal immune system in a presensitized host) that occur in response to medication, infection, or illness. Both SJS and TEN are severe cutaneous reactions thought to describe the same disorder, only differing in severity (TEN more severe); however, there is debate as to whether these three fall into a spectrum of disease that includes EM.

• EM has also been called EM minor.
• SJS has been called EM major in the past but it is now thought to be a distinct entity different from all types of EM.
• TEN is also known as Lyell syndrome.

• The incidence of EM has been estimated to range from 1 in 1000 persons to 1 in 10,000 persons.1 The true incidence of the disease is unknown.1
• SJS and TEN are rare severe cutaneous reactions often caused by drugs. Reports of incidence vary from 1.2 to 6 per 1 million for SJS and from 0.4 to 1.2 per 1 million for TEN.2-4
• EM most commonly occurs between the ages of 10 and 30 years, with 20% of cases occurring in children and adolescents.5
• With respect to EM, males are affected slightly more often than females.5

Numerous factors have been identified as causative agents for EM:

• Herpes simplex virus (HSV) I and HSV II are the most common causative agents, having been implicated in at least 60% of the cases (Figure 177-2).6,7
• The virus has been found in circulating blood,8 as well as on skin biopsy of patients with EM minor.6