Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
04:44
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Severe obliterative bronchitis associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Tetsukan Woo1, Haruhiro Saito, Yasushi Yamakawa
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan. tetsu.n.u@cotton.ocn.ne.jp
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|November 16, 2011
Summary
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) can lead to rare but severe obliterative bronchitis, causing respiratory failure. Early recognition and consideration of lung transplantation are crucial for managing this SJS complication.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Dermatology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions.
- Pulmonary complications following SJS/TEN are uncommon but can be life-threatening.
Observation:
- A 29-year-old female developed respiratory failure with obliterative bronchitis after SJS diagnosis and betamethasone treatment.
- Chest CT revealed hyperlucent lungs with narrowed vessels; bronchoscopy showed expiratory bronchial occlusion.
- Flow-volume loops indicated severe obstructive lung disease.
Findings:
- The patient required mechanical ventilation and did not improve with bronchodilators and steroids.
- Progressive hypercapnia and cardiac dysfunction occurred despite intensive care.
- The patient succumbed to the condition 19 months after SJS onset.
Implications:
- Obliterative bronchitis is a rare, severe, and effectively untreatable pulmonary complication of SJS/TEN.
- Early diagnosis and consideration of lung transplantation are vital for patients with SJS/TEN-associated obliterative bronchitis.
- Increased awareness among clinicians is necessary to improve outcomes for this rare condition.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that progressively worsen over time, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This cluster of diseases collectively leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in lung function over time.
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) pathophysiology is intricate and multifaceted, involving a complex interplay of physiological processes. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for effectively managing and treating COPD. Here is an in-depth look at the critical elements in the pathophysiology of COPD:
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Inflammation
01:19Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a long-term condition marked by persistent and only partially reversible airflow limitation. It involves two overlapping conditions—chronic bronchitis and emphysema—which often co-appear but differ in dominant symptoms and underlying mechanisms.Chronic Bronchitis FeaturesChronic bronchitis presents with a persistent productive cough and thick, sometimes purulent mucus due to airway inflammation, enlarged mucus glands, and goblet cell...
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD is defined as a heterogeneous lung condition marked by persistent respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and sputum production, caused by abnormalities in the airways that cause airflow obstruction.
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:26COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...