A retrospective, 5-year, clinicoepidemiological study of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)

A severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR) is a rare, clinically heterogeneous, life-threatening phenomenon that results in serious skin damage, systemic complications, and significant morbidity or mortality comprising of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), or SJS-TEN overlap, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), exfoliative dermatitis, and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).

A retrospective study was conducted on all cases of SCARs admitted in a tertiary care referral hospital from January 2015 to December 2019. Clinical and epidemiological details were retrieved from the records of patients as per predesigned proforma. The data collected were analyzed and statistically evaluated.

A total of 142 patients (67 males, 75 females) with SCARs, constituting 0.08% of total hospital admission and 0.027% of total dermatology outpatient department (OPD), were studied. Age group ranged from 2 to 61 years, with the mean age of 33.6 years (SD = 17.43). Most patients belonged to SJS-TEN complex (75 cases; SJS 48, SJS-TEN 18, TEN nine) followed by exfoliative dermatitis (27 cases/19%), AGEP (26 cases/18.3%), and DRESS (14 cases/9.8%). Anticonvulsants were most commonly implicated (22%) followed by antibiotics (20%), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (17%), and ayurvedic (7%). There was only single mortality in a DRESS patient.

SCAR has considerable disease burden with marginal female preponderance in SJS/TEN and exfoliative dermatitis and can involve even the pediatric population. Anticonvulsants followed by antibiotics, NSAIDs, and ayurvedic medicines are common groups known to cause SCARs. To date, there are no definitive recommendations regarding their optimal treatment regimen, hence early diagnosis, prompt withdrawal of culprit drug, high standard of nursing care, and interdisciplinary consultations are vital steps to avoid disease progression and restore health.