Stevens-Johnson syndrome associated with occupational exposure to trichloroethylene

Reports on cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (erythema multiforme major) have seldom related it to occupational exposure to chemicals. Serious liver involvement is also uncommon. This report describes 5 cases of the syndrome who had been occupationally exposed to trichloroethylene. The circumstantial evidence suggested that the chemical might have been a causative factor in the disease. The liver was involved in all and in 3 it was serious, with one death. The degree of exposure to trichloroethylene varied. The duration of exposure ranged from 2 to 5 weeks. It seemed likely that there was a hypersensitive reaction to trichloroethylene in these cases.