Life-threatening dermatoses: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. Impact on the Spanish public health system (2010-2015)

Background

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are serious mucocutaneous reactions. In Spain, the epidemiology and resulting expenses of these diseases are not well established.

Methodology

Retrospective descriptive study using the Minimum Basic Data Set (CMBD in Spanish) in patients admitted to hospitals of the National Health System between 2010 and 2015 with a diagnosis of SJS and TEN (combination of ICD-9 codes 695.13, 695.14, and 695.15, along with length of hospital stay).

Principal findings

A total of 1,468 patients were recorded, 773 were men (52.7%). The mean age (± SD) was 52.25 ± 26.15 years. The mean incidence rate for all diagnoses was 5.19 cases per million person-years (2.96 in SJS, 0.31 in SJS/TEN and 1.90 in TEN). 148 patients died (10.1%), 47 due to SJS (5.6%) and 90 (16.7%) due to TEN. The estimated total medical cost of SJS, SJS/TEN, and TEN in Spain was €11.576.456,18, and the average medical cost per patient was €7.885,86 ± €11.686,26, higher medical cost in TEN (€10352.46 ± €16319,93) than in SJS (€6340,05 ± €7078,85) (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Older patients have a more severe clinical picture and higher mortality rates. The overall mortality of both diseases is approximately 10%, and clinical diagnosis and age were the variables with the greatest influence on mortality. This study describes a stable incidence and a similar prevalence to other European countries. Additionally, the data show a high cost due to hospitalizations. Finally, the CMBD could be a good system of epidemiological analysis for the study of infrequent diseases and hospital management of conditions such as SJS and TEN.

Zika Virus: Cutaneous Manifestations in 3 Patients

Zika virus infection should be suspected in travelers or immigrants with the signs or symptoms of a viral infection (rash, fever, joint pains, conjunctivitis, headache, etc.) and a compatible epidemiological history. Although cutaneous manifestations are among the most common clinical signs of Zika, they are not specific and very few images are available. We present 3 patients (2 travelers and 1 immigrant) in whom a rash was the presenting manifestation of Zika virus infection. Prompt diagnosis optimizes outcomes in these patients, improves the management of severe disease, and minimizes the risk of local transmission by Aedes albopictus, now a potential local vector for the virus due to its presence in areas along Spain's Mediterranean coast.