Erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)--chart review of 123 hospitalized patients

The charts of 123 patients hospitalized with erythema multiforme were reviewed. Antecedent infections and the administration of drugs were associated with 15 and 32% of the cases, respectively. Pyrexia arthralgia, photosensitivity, abnormal liver function tests and abnormal urine sediment were common findings. The length of stay in hospital was 12.6 +/- 0.7 days (mean +/- SE), time to initial improvement after onset was 10.3 +/- 0.6 days and time to complete resolution was 23.0 +/- 2.4 days. The presence of bullous skin lesions and greater overall severity were associated with longer hospitalization. Antecedent respiratory tract symptoms were related to shorter hospitalization. Steroid therapy was not associated with a shorter time for initial improvement to occur, while the average length of stay in hospital was 4.2 days longer than that for the patients not treated with corticosteroid.