Treatment effect of a tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist on 17 patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To estimate the treatment effect of a tumor necrosis factor ? alpha antagonist (etanercept) on Stevens?Johnson syndrome induced by drugs. Methods After exclusion of tuberculosis, hepatitis, severe infections and tumors, 17 patients with drug?induced Stevens?Johnson syndrome were treated with subcutaneous injections of 25 mg(initial dose, 50 mg)etanercept once every 3 days for 6 times. Meanwhile, supportive therapies and compound glycyrrhizin injections were given to counteract inflammation and protect the liver. Results All of the patients were cured. Body temperature in 15 febrile patients gradually decreased within 24- 48 hours after the first injection of etanercept, and returned to normal in 72 hours. The number of vesicles stopped increasing, and lesion color turned from bright red to dull red within 24 hours. Skin condition was evidently controlled within 72 hours, and skin appearance almost returned to normal after 2 weeks of treatment, and was completely restored after 4- 5 weeks. The recovery of mucous membrane was slower than that of skin. Serum aminotransferase levels gradually declined after the first dose of etanercept and almost returned to normal in 2-4 weeks in 14 patients. Serum levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine began to decrease after 1- 2 weeks of treatment. The serum level of tumor necrosis factor?alpha nearly dropped into or was maintained in the normal range within 3 weeks after the start of treatment. Conclusion Early usage of tumor necrosis factor?alpha antagonists at an adequate dose is beneficial to the rapid control of Stevens?Johnson syndrome.