Infectious Keratitis in Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Versus Chemical Burn

To investigate the incidence, clinical and microbiological characteristics, risk factors, and therapeutic outcome of infectious keratitis in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) related to Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and corneal chemical burn.

Medical records of 90 eyes of 59 patients who were diagnosed with LSCD resulting from SJS (52 eyes of 29 patients) or corneal chemical burn (38 eyes of 30 patients) were reviewed.

Infectious keratitis developed in 35% of LSCD patients with SJS (18 eyes, 14 patients) and in 18% of those with chemical burn (7 eyes, 7 patients). The development of infectious keratitis in SJS was significantly associated with the severity of chronic ocular surface complications in the cornea, conjunctiva, and eyelids and with the use of topical corticosteroids during the disease course. All cases of infectious keratitis following chemical burn occurred in patients with grade III or IV burn by Roper-Hall classification. Approximately 83% of culture-proven cases of infectious keratitis were bacterial infection, most of which (80%) were caused by Gram-positive bacteria. For resolution of infection, 17 eyes (68%) received surgery in addition to medical treatment, whereas 8 eyes (32%) received medical treatment alone. After infection resolution, the final visual acuity was decreased in 10 eyes (40%) compared with before infection.

Infectious keratitis is a common complication of LSCD associated with SJS or severe chemical burn to the cornea. Despite medical and surgical treatments, the visual outcome is poor.