Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: the Food and Drug Administration adverse event reporting system, 2004-2013

Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reaction to Lamotrigine: A Case of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in a Psychiatric Patient

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe and potentially life-threatening mucocutaneous reaction often triggered by medications. Antiepileptic drugs, particularly lamotrigine, are recognized as significant causative agents. Early identification and management are crucial to improve patient outcomes. We report the case of a 26-year-old male diagnosed with schizoaffective bipolar disorder who developed SJS following the dose escalation of lamotrigine. He presented with multiple well-defined erythematous lesions, targetoid macular lesions, oral erosions, and fever. Based on clinical findings and a detailed medication history, lamotrigine was identified as the probable causative agent using the World Health Organization (WHO)-Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) causality assessment scale. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated inflammatory markers and Severity-of-Illness Score for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SCORTEN) assessment predicted a significant mortality risk. Management included immediate discontinuation of lamotrigine, systemic corticosteroids, antihistamines, antibiotics, and topical agents for symptomatic relief. Supportive care led to gradual re-epithelialization, resolution of mucosal lesions, and eventual discharge with residual post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This case emphasizes the risk of severe cutaneous adverse reactions with lamotrigine, particularly within the initial weeks of treatment. The pathophysiology of SJS involves immune-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis, with granulysin playing a key role. Current treatment strategies remain debated, with corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors showing potential benefits. Early drug discontinuation, vigilant monitoring, and multidisciplinary management are crucial in reducing morbidity and mortality. This report underscores the need for heightened vigilance when prescribing lamotrigine, particularly during dose escalation. Strengthening pharmacovigilance, patient education, and screening for genetic predispositions may help mitigate the risk of drug-induced SJS. Further research into optimal therapeutic strategies is warranted to improve clinical outcomes in affected patients.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Anticonvulsants

BACKGROUND

Antiepileptics are the mainstay of treatment for seizure management. Immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions associated with antiepileptics are common. It is important to differentiate between these reactions as management and prognosis varies.

OBJECTIVE

This review article aims to describe the types of hypersensitivity reactions reported with antiepileptics with emphasis on delayed hypersensitivity reactions, as these can be life-threatening.

METHODS

Online databases including PubMed and Cochrane were searched, from the inception of the literature to 5/10/24. Studies focusing on hypersensitivity reactions to antiepileptics were reviewed. Case reports, case series, observational studies, and clinical trials were included. Abstracts and studies published in languages other than English were not included.

RESULTS

Immediate reactions can occur with antiepileptics however the incidence is lower than that of delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Delayed hypersensitivity reactions include benign rash as well as severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, Steven Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis are discussed in detail in this review. We focused on pathogenesis, genetic predisposition, clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions can be lethal. It is important to make the correct diagnosis and treat patients accordingly. More studies comparing therapeutic options head-to-head are needed.

Improving Clinical Practice Through Patient Registries in Allergy and Immunology

Patient registries are a mechanism for collecting data on allergic and immunologic diseases that provide important information on epidemiology and outcomes that can ultimately improve patient care. Key criteria for establishing effective registries include the use of a clearly defined purpose, identifying the target population and ensuring consistent data collection. Registries in allergic diseases include those for diseases such as inborn errors of immunity (IEI), food allergy, asthma and anaphylaxis, pharmacological interventions in vulnerable populations, and adverse effects of pharmacologic interventions including hypersensitivity reactions to drugs and vaccines. Important insights gained from patient registries in our field include contributions in phenotype and outcomes in IEI, the risk for adverse reactions in food-allergic patients in multiple settings, the benefits and risk of biologic medications for asthma during pregnancy, vaccine safety, and the categorization and genetic determination of risk for severe cutaneous adverse reactions to medications. Impediments to the development of clinically meaningful patient registries include the lack of funding resources for registry establishment and the quality, quantity, and consistency of available data. Despite these drawbacks, high-quality and successful registries are invaluable in informing clinical practice and improving outcomes in patients with allergic and immunological diseases.

A retrospective analysis of mortality risk and immunosuppressive therapy for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome using the TriNetX research network

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) exist on a spectrum of autoimmune conditions which cause epidermal detachment and keratinocyte necrosis. Due to the rare incidence of these conditions, a dramatic heterogeneity in treatment algorithms exists. To better appreciate pharmacologic immunosuppressive therapies' impact on survival, the authors queried a multi-institutional data network. Data for this study was extracted from TriNetX Research Network, a platform that contains ICD-9/ICD-10 coding data from a consortium of international healthcare organizations. Seventy-one institutions were queried to identify adult patients diagnosed with SJS, TEN or SJS-TEN Overlap. Cohorts were created based on the therapy received: systemic steroids (SS), diphenhydramine (DH), cyclosporine (CS), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors (TNFαi), or a combination of treatments. Cohorts were then propensity matched with patients who received supportive care. Patients who only received one of the above treatments showed no significant reduction in 90-day mortality. Patients who received CS or IVIG as part of their multitherapy showed a significantly increased risk of death when compared to supportive care (CS: RR = 1.583, 95% CI [1.119, 2.240]; IVIG: RR = 2.132, 95% CI [1.485, 3.059]). Despite their frequent utilization, this study's analysis suggests that none of these therapies confer significant 90-day mortality survival over supportive care alone. These results highlight the heterogeneity of therapies and emphasize the need for critical prospective appraisal of their outcomes in SJS and TEN.

Acetaminophen-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome with lethal lung injury: A case report

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) with respiratory distress can lead to fatal outcomes. However, there are a few reports of drug-induced lung injury with diffuse alveolar damage caused by acetaminophen, the most severe type. Here, we describe a fatal case of acetaminophen-induced SJS in a child with irreversible lung lesions.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: A systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE case reports from 1980 to 2020

Background

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare, life-threatening immunologic reactions. Prior studies using electronic health records, registries or reporting databases are often limited in sample size or lack clinical details. We reviewed diverse detailed case reports published over four decades.

Methods

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis-related case reports were identified from the MEDLINE database between 1980 and 2020. Each report was classified by severity (i.e., SJS, TEN, or SJS-TEN overlap) after being considered a “probable” or “definite” SJS/TEN case. The demographics, preconditions, culprit agents, clinical course, and mortality of the cases were analyzed across the disease severity.

Results

Among 1,059 “probable” or “definite” cases, there were 381 (36.0%) SJS, 602 (56.8%) TEN, and 76 (7.2%) SJS-TEN overlap cases, with a mortality rate of 6.3%, 24.4%, and 21.1%, respectively. Over one-third of cases had immunocompromised conditions preceding onset, including cancer (n = 194,18.3%), autoimmune diseases (n = 97, 9.2%), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (n = 52, 4.9%). During the acute phase of the reaction, 843 (79.5%) cases reported mucous membrane involvement and 210 (19.8%) involved visceral organs. Most cases were drug-induced (n = 957, 90.3%). A total of 379 drug culprits were reported; the most frequently reported drug were antibiotics (n = 285, 26.9%), followed by anticonvulsants (n = 196, 18.5%), analgesics/anesthetics (n = 126, 11.9%), and antineoplastics (n = 120, 11.3%). 127 (12.0%) cases reported non-drug culprits, including infections (n = 68, 6.4%), of which 44 were associated with a mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and radiotherapy (n = 27, 2.5%).

Conclusion

An expansive list of potential causative agents were identified from a large set of literature-reported SJS/TEN cases, which warrant future investigation to understand risk factors and clinical manifestations of SJS/TEN in different populations.

Culprit Medications and Risk Factors Associated with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to describe the incidence of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) in a large unselected cohort, to validate the culprit drugs involved and the frequency of SJS/TEN for each drug, and to analyze the clinical risk factors for SJS/TEN.

METHODS

Using the computerized database of Clalit Health Services, we identified all adult patients with a new SJS/TEN diagnosis between 1 January, 2008 and 30 June, 2019 and validated each case. Cumulative incidence of SJS/TEN for each culprit drug was calculated by dividing the number of valid cases by the total number of new users of the drug in the study period. Using risk-set sampling, 20 controls were matched to each case by sex and age on the index date for a nested case-control analysis. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for the association of incident SJS/TEN with chronic diseases.

RESULTS

We identified 87 adult cases of true/probable SJS/TEN between 1 January, 2008 and 30 June, 2019. Culprit drugs [with ALDEN scores ascertained as at least probable (≥ 4)] associated with the highest absolute risks were phenytoin, lamotrigine, and allopurinol with 3.56, 2.82, and 1.10 SJS/TEN cases/10,000 new users, respectively. Additional drugs with mean ALDEN scores ≥ 4 were sunitinib, sulfasalazine, carbamazepine, etoricoxib, etodolac, and cefuroxime, cumulative incidence: 13.57, 0.72, 0.32, 0.05, 0.02, and 0.02/10,000 new users, respectively. Previous diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, previous drug allergies, epilepsy, malignancy, history of cerebrovascular accident, and history of diabetes mellitus were associated with an increased risk for SJS/TEN, odds ratios (95% confidence interval):17.41 (1.31-230.72), 10.28 (3.61-29.31), 5.21 (2.95-9.19), 4.92 (1.88-12.85), 3.17 (1.77-5.66), 2.61 (1.26-5.41), and 1.98 (1.12-3.53), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Attention should be drawn to drugs assessed by high ALDEN scores that were associated with high absolute risks for SJS/TEN. Psoriasis, former drug allergies, in addition to systemic lupus erythematosus, malignancy, history of cerebrovascular accident, and diabetes mellitus were associated with increased SJS/TEN risk in our analysis.

Assessment of Reye's syndrome profile with data from the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System and the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report databases using the disproportionality analysis

Objectives:

Reye’s syndrome is a rare and potentially fatal illness that is defined as encephalopathy accompanied by liver failure. The aim of this study was to assess Reye’s syndrome profiles by analyzing data from the spontaneous reporting system database.

Methods:

We analyzed reports of Reye’s syndrome using the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System and the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report databases. The reporting odds ratio and proportional reporting rate were used to detect the pharmacovigilance signal.

Results:

The US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System contains 12,201,620 reports from January 2004 to June 2020, of which 186 are on Reye’s syndrome. The Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report contains 646,779 reports from April 2004 to September 2020, of which 30 are on Reye’s syndrome. In the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database, the reporting odds ratios (95% confidence interval, number of cases) of aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and valproate sodium were 404.6 (302.6–541.0, n = 80), 15.1 (6.7–34.1, n = 6), 26.2 (16.1–42.6, n = 18), 10.7 (5.5–20.9, n = 9), and 47.1 (26.2–84.6, n = 12), respectively. In the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database, the reporting odds ratios (95% confidence interval, number of cases) of aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, loxoprofen, acetaminophen, and valproate sodium were 14.1 (5.4–36.8, n = 5), 51.7 (22.2–120.5, n = 7), 135.0 (40.8–446.2, n = 3), 17.6 (6.7–46.0, n = 5), 24.0 (9.2–62.6, n = 5), and 13.8 (3.3–57.9, n = 2), respectively. The reported number of female patients aged 30–39 years was the highest in the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report.

Conclusion:

Although the frequency of the occurrence of Reye’s syndrome is low, the possible risk of the disease occurring in adult females should be considered.

Multidisciplinary care in Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are potentially fatal mucocutaneous diseases that can involve many organ systems. Manifestations of SJS/TEN outside of the skin, eyes, and oral mucosa are not well defined or well recognized, and, therefore, are often not addressed clinically. As supportive care improves and mortality from SJS/TEN decreases, chronic complications in affected organ systems are becoming more prevalent. Recognition of the manifestations of SJS/TEN in the acute phase is critical to optimal care. In this review, we review the organ systems that may be involved in SJS/TEN, provide an overview of their management, and propose a list of items that should be communicated to the patient and family upon discharge. The organ systems discussed include the pulmonary, gastrointestinal/hepatic, oral, otorhinolaryngologic, gynecologic, genitourinary, and renal systems. In addition, the significant psychosocial, nutritional, and pain consequences and management of SJS/TEN are discussed.

Society of Dermatology Hospitalists supportive care guidelines for the management of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis in adults

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening conditions with high morbidity and mortality. Supportive care management of SJS/TEN is highly variable. A systematic review of the literature was performed by dermatologists, ophthalmologists, intensivists, and gynecologists with expertise in SJS/TEN to generate statements for supportive care guideline development. Members of the Society of Dermatology Hospitalists with expertise in SJS/TEN were invited to participate in a modified, online Delphi-consensus. Participants were administered 9-point Likert scale questionnaires regarding 135 statements. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was used to evaluate and select proposed statements for guideline inclusion; statements with median ratings of 6.5 to 9 and a disagreement index of ≤1 were included in the guideline. For the final round, the guidelines were appraised by all of the participants. Included are an evidence-based discussion and recommendations for hospital setting and care team, wound care, ocular care, oral care, urogenital care, pain management, infection surveillance, fluid and electrolyte management, nutrition and stress ulcer prophylaxis, airway management, and anticoagulation in adult patients with SJS/TEN.

Distinguishing Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis from clinical mimickers during inpatient dermatologic consultation-A retrospective chart review

BACKGROUND

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening conditions that may present with similar findings to other severe dermatologic diseases.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this exploratory study was to explore factors associated with SJS/TEN and develop a model that provides the predicted probability of SJS/TEN for patients for whom the diagnosis of SJS/TEN is considered.

METHODS

Retrospective review of consultations for patients with suspected SJS, TEN, or overlap at 4 academic dermatology consultation services.

RESULTS

Overall, 208 patients were included; 59 (28.4%) had a final diagnosis of SJS/TEN, and 149 (71.6%) were given a different diagnosis. The most common mimickers were drug hypersensitivity syndrome (n = 21, 10.1%), morbilliform drug eruption (n = 18, 8.7%), erythema multiforme (n = 15, 7.2%), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (n = 13, 6.2%). Nikolsky sign, atypical targets, fever, and lymphopenia were included in a model for predicting the probability of SJS/TEN.

LIMITATIONS

All cases were obtained from academic centers, which may limit the generalization of findings to community-based settings. This was an exploratory study with a small number of cases, and external validation of the model performance is needed.

CONCLUSION

Early dermatologic evaluation of patients with suspected SJS/TEN is key to separating patients with this condition from those who ultimately receive diagnoses of other serious skin diseases.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis with antiepileptic drugs: An analysis of the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System

OBJECTIVE

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare and potentially fatal adverse skin reactions that are most commonly triggered by certain medications. One class of medications that has been highly associated with SJS/TEN reactions is antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). We sought to quantify the risk of SJS/TEN associated with AEDs as a class, as well as individual AEDs, in the United States.

METHODS

An analysis was performed of the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from July 2014 through December 2017. Rates of SJS/TEN were calculated for each AED compared with all other non-AEDs. Reporting odds ratios (RORs), proportional reporting ratios (PRRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using OpenEpi.

RESULTS

With 198 reports, AEDs had more reports of SJS/TEN than any other medication class. AEDs as a class had an ROR of 8.7 (95% CI 7.5-10.2) and a PRR of 8.7 (95% CI 7.5-10.2) compared with all other non-AEDs. The AEDs with the highest risk estimates were zonisamide (ROR 70.2, 95% CI 33.1-148.7; PRR 68.7, 95% CI 32.9-143.5), rufinamide (ROR 60.0, 95% CI 8.3-433.5; PRR 58.9, 95% CI 8.4-411.5), clorazepate (ROR 56.0, 95% CI 7.8-404.1; PRR 55.1, 95% CI 7.8-385.0), lamotrigine (ROR 53.0, 95% CI 43.2-64.9; PRR 52.2, 95% CI 42.7-63.7), phenytoin (ROR 26.3, 95% CI 15.5-44.7; PRR 26.1, 95% CI 15.4-44.2), and carbamazepine (ROR 24.5, 95% CI 16.0-37.5; PRR 24.3, 95% CI 16.0-37.1).

SIGNIFICANCE

Although AEDs as a class were associated with 9 times the risk of SJS/TEN compared with non-AEDs, there were 6 AEDs with risk estimates greater than 20. Increased awareness of this risk among both prescribers and patients, particularly variations in risk among different AEDs, along with education on early recognition of SJS/TEN signs/symptoms, may help mitigate the number and severity of these adverse events.

Drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in vietnamese spontaneous adverse drug reaction database: A subgroup approach to disproportionality analysis

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Despite the numerous studies investigating drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN), the understanding and quantitative data in developing countries remain limited. The study aimed to describe and quantify the drug-related risk of SJS/TEN in a resource-limited context using the Vietnamese spontaneous reporting database (VSRD) of adverse drug reactions.

METHODS

Spontaneous reports relating to medium- and late-onset severe cutaneous adverse reactions (MLOSCAR) and SJS/TEN recorded in the VSRD from 2010 to 2015 were retrospectively analysed. The demographic characteristics and drug information were described and compared between SJS/TEN and other MLOSCAR reports. The drug-induced SJS/TEN signals were estimated using subgrouped disproportionality analysis with calculation of the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and the respective 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

The VSRD received 2,849 MLOSCAR reports, 136 of which focus on SJS/TEN over a 6-year period. About 60% of SJS/TEN patients were male, and the majority of them were adults (mean age 42.5 ± 22.9). Up to 91.8% of drugs induced SJS/TEN within 1-28 days, and 45% SJS/TEN cases were evaluated as life-threatening. Positive signals were generated with carbamazepine (n = 25, ROR [95% CI] = 11.99 [7.07-19.92]), allopurinol (n = 15, ROR [95% CI] = 4.2 [2.20-7.59]), traditional/herbal medicines (n = 7, ROR [95% CI] = 2.76 [1.12-5.86]), colchicine (n = 4, ROR [95% CI] = 6.22 [1.69-18.72]), valproic acid (n = 3, ROR [95% CI] = 8.71 [1.89-30.19]) and meloxicam (n = 3, ROR [95% CI] = 7.09 [1.55-24.29]), which are well known for SJS/TEN. Cefixime (n = 5, ROR [95% CI] = 3.34 [1.13-8.00]) and paracetamol (n = 22, ROR [95% CI] = 5.23 [3.10-8.49]) also generated positive signals despite their popularity in Vietnam.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

This first Vietnamese population-based study has highlighted original characteristics and signals of drug-induced SJS/TEN, which are relatively consistent with other worldwide data and typical for a developing country.

Analysis of polypharmacy effects in older patients using Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database

Population aging is a global phenomenon, and choosing appropriate medical care for the elderly is critical. Polypharmacy is suspected to increase the risk of adverse events (AEs) in older patients. We examined the AE profiles associated with polypharmacy and aging using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database. We attempted to mitigate the effect of patient-related factors using a multiple-logistic regression technique and data subsetting. We selected case reports for AEs as specified in the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). The association between polypharmacy and "renal disorder" or "hepatic disorder" was evaluated using reporting odds ratio (ROR) and adjusted for covariates using multiple-logistic regression. For renal disorder, advanced polypharmacy showed higher adjusted RORs, because the value of administered drugs group [1.82 (1.76-1.88), ≥ 10] was higher than that of the number of administered drugs group [1.27 (1.24-1.31), 5-9]. The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of adjusted ROR for age (≥ 60 years) was > 1 for renal disorder. For hepatic disorder, the adjusted RORs were as follows: 1.17 (1.14-1.20) for the number of administered drugs group (5-9) and 1.14 (1.11-1.18) for the number of administered drugs group (≥ 10). The adjusted RORs of hepatic disorder compared to those of renal disorder had lower adjusted RORs related to the increase in the number of administered drugs. Therefore, elderly individuals should be closely monitored for the occurrence of renal disorder when they are subjected to polypharmacy. This approach might apply to the simultaneous evaluation of the AE risk of polypharmacy and aging.

Thromboembolic adverse event study of combined estrogen-progestin preparations using Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database

Combined estrogen-progestin preparations (CEPs) are associated with thromboembolic (TE) side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of TE using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database. Adverse events recorded from April 2004 to November 2014 in the JADER database were obtained from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) website (www.pmda.go.jp). We calculated the reporting odds ratios (RORs) of suspected CEPs, analyzed the time-to-onset profile, and assessed the hazard type using Weibull shape parameter (WSP). Furthermore, we used the applied association rule mining technique to discover undetected relationships such as the possible risk factors. The total number of reported cases in the JADER contained was 338,224. The RORs (95% confidential interval, CI) of drospirenone combined with ethinyl estradiol (EE, Dro-EE), norethisterone with EE (Ne-EE), levonorgestrel with EE (Lev-EE), desogestrel with EE (Des-EE), and norgestrel with EE (Nor-EE) were 56.2 (44.3–71.4), 29.1 (23.5–35.9), 42.9 (32.3–57.0), 44.7 (32.7–61.1), and 38.6 (26.3–56.7), respectively. The medians (25%–75%) of the time-to-onset of Dro-EE, Ne-EE, Lev-EE, Des-EE, and Nor-EE were 150.0 (75.3–314.0), 128.0 (27.0–279.0), 204.0 (44.0–660.0), 142.0 (41.3–344.0), and 16.5 (8.8–32.0) days, respectively. The 95% CIs of the WSP-β for Ne-EE, Lev-EE, and Nor-EE were lower and excluded 1. Association rule mining indicated that patients with anemia had a potential risk of developing a TE when using CEPs. Our results suggest that it is important to monitor patients administered CEP for TE. Careful observation is recommended, especially for those using Nor-EE, and this information may be useful for efficient therapeutic planning.

[Evaluation of the Association of Hand-Foot Syndrome with Anticancer Drugs Using the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) Databases]

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare lists hand-foot syndrome as a serious adverse drug event. Therefore, we evaluated its association with anticancer drug therapy using case reports in the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). In addition, we calculated the reporting odds ratio (ROR) of anticancer drugs potentially associated with hand-foot syndrome, and applied the Weibull shape parameter to time-to-event data from JADER. We found that JADER contained 338224 reports from April 2004 to November 2014, while FAERS contained 5821354 reports from January 2004 to June 2014. In JADER, the RORs [95% confidence interval (CI)] of hand-foot syndrome for capecitabine, tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil, fluorouracil, sorafenib, and regorafenib were 63.60 (95%CI, 56.19-71.99), 1.30 (95%CI, 0.89-1.89), 0.48 (95%CI, 0.30-0.77), 26.10 (95%CI, 22.86-29.80), and 133.27 (95%CI, 112.85-157.39), respectively. Adverse event symptoms of hand-foot syndrome were observed with most anticancer drugs, which carry warnings of the propensity to cause these effects in their drug information literature. The time-to-event analysis using the Weibull shape parameter revealed differences in the time-dependency of the adverse events of each drug. Therefore, anticancer drugs should be used carefully in clinical practice, and patients may require careful monitoring for symptoms of hand-foot syndrome.

Drug induced exfoliative dermatitis: state of the art

Drug induced exfoliative dermatitis (ED) are a group of rare and severe drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR) involving skin and usually occurring from days to several weeks after drug exposure. Erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are the main clinical presentations of drug induced ED. Overall, T cells are the central player of these immune-mediated drug reactions. Here we provide a systematic review on frequency, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical features and management of patients with drug induced ED.

Analysis of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database

Background

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe cutaneous adverse reactions associated with fatal disorders. Although many causes of SJS/TEN have been proposed, the time-to-onset for SJS/TEN and the relationship between aging and SJS/TEN are still not clear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between aging and SJS/TEN using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database and analyze the time-to-onset profile of SJS/TEN.

Methods

We analyzed reports of SJS/TEN recorded in the JADER database between 2004 and 2015 using an adjusted reporting odds ratio (ROR). We also used Weibull proportional hazards models for each drug to examine the expression patterns of SJS/TEN. We selected the drugs according to the number of the reports associated with SJS/TEN.

Results

The JADER contained 330,686 reports from April 2004 to April 2015. The adjusted RORs for patients in the 0–19-, 20–39-, 60–79-, and ≥ 80-year-old groups from all data extracted from the JADER database were 1.33 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.21–1.45), 1.78 (95 % CI, 1.65–1.93), 0.71 (95 % CI, 0.66–0.75), and 0.72 (95 % CI, 0.66–0.79), respectively. The adjusted ROR tended to be higher in patients aged 0–19 years, particularly in patients using antipyretic analgesics, such as loxoprofen or acetaminophen. More than half of the cases of SJS/TEN onset following administration of loxoprofen and acetaminophen occurred within 4 days of the initiation of treatment. The median times-to-onset were 3 days for loxoprofen and 2 days for acetaminophen. The scale parameter α values of loxoprofen and acetaminophen were 9.44 and 6.17, respectively. The upper 95 % CIs of shape parameter β values for the drugs were all less than 1, with the exceptions of those for carbamazepine, ACE inhibitors, and corticosteroids.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that monitoring of younger patients who frequently use antipyretic analgesics is important. These drugs should be used and monitored within the first 2–3 days of treatment in the Japanese population.

[Analysis of Spontaneously Reported Adverse Events]

Observational study is necessary for the evaluation of drug effectiveness in clinical practice. In recent years, the use of spontaneous reporting systems (SRS) for adverse drug reactions has increased and they have become an important resource for regulatory science. SRS, being the largest and most well-known databases worldwide, are one of the primary tools used for postmarketing surveillance and pharmacovigilance. To analyze SRS, the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report Database (JADER) are reviewed. Authorized pharmacovigilance algorithms were used for signal detection, including the reporting odds ratio. An SRS is a passive reporting database and is therefore subject to numerous sources of selection bias, including overreporting, underreporting, and a lack of a denominator. Despite the inherent limitations of spontaneous reporting, SRS databases are a rich resource and data mining index that provide powerful means of identifying potential associations between drugs and their adverse effects. Our results, which are based on the evaluation of SRS databases, provide essential knowledge that could improve our understanding of clinical issues.