Treatment and outcome of toxic epidermal necrolysis in 32 Chinese patients: a hospital‐based study

Abstract

Results Antibiotics (n=12) were the most common offending drugs, followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n=8), anti-rheumatic drugs (n=2) and Chinese herbs (n=2). Hypertension (34.4%, n=11) and diabetes (21.9%, n=7) were the most common pre-existing conditions. Hepatitis B virus infection, cerebrovascular diseases and cardiovascular diseases pre-existed in 15.6% (n=5), 12.5% (n=4) and 12.5% (n=4) of the 32 patients, respectively. TEN showed higher incidence in the patients with HBV infection. All 32 patients were treated initially with systemic corticosteroids ranging from 50 mg to 150 mg daily. Sixteen patients were treated with combined IVIG (400 mg/kg/day, for 5 days). Twenty-nine patients were cured without or with different sequelae. The mortality rate was 9.38% (n=3). The application of IVIG reduced the estimated mortality of TEN to 17%. Delayed use of IVIG, elevated level of urea nitrogen and early onset of the rashes after taking offensive drugs were associated with the mortality of TEN.