According to a new study, allopurinol may be the leading cause of antibiotic-triggered Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a severe allergic reaction to some medications.

Recently published in the American Journal of Medicine, the study identified 64 patients at Vancouver General Hospital with a diagnosis of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), or the more serious, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is considered a more severe form of Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

The purpose of the study was to find out what drugs triggered SJS or TEN and to look at the timeline of drug administration and SJS in the patients.

In 75% of the cases, a drug trigger was identified.

In 13 cases, patients took multiple drugs so a single drug trigger was difficult to single out. However, in 20% of the cases, allopurinol was to blame.

This study also found that of the total patients diagnosed with SJS/TEN, Caucasians comprised 44% and the mortality rate was 14%. However, Chinese patients, making up 23% of the SJS sufferers, had a mortality rate of 47%.

In essence, nearly half of all reactions to allopurinol occurred in Chinese patients even though they only made up 23% of the cases. Researchers are looking into what could have caused this increased mortality rate among the Chinese patients.

What is Allopurinol?

Allopurinol is a drug used to treat gout or kidney stones.   Also known as Aloprim or Zyloprim, the drug works by reducing the body’s production of uric acid. It is also used to reduce the uric acid produced in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

In some cases, however, allopurinol does more than simply help in reducing uric acid. It has been known to trigger the allergic reaction known as SJS and may be the number one drug associated with the reaction.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a severe allergic reaction, usually to a medication, like allopurinol.

With SJS, a patient begins by exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Following this, the patient develops a rash. The mucous membranes of the body are attacked, like the eyes and mouth, and the sufferer may then begin to experience skin lesions all over the body.

SJS causes cell death which can cause the skin to begin to separate from the body. Victims may suffer from permanent scarring, as well as eye complications like severe conjunctivitis, corneal blisters and holes, and vision loss.

If not diagnosed and treated in time, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) can follow. This is considered a more severe form of SJS, covering a greater area of the body.

SJS and TEN are serious medical emergencies and should be treated with the utmost urgency when diagnosed. There is no cure for SJS but often when the offending medication is stopped, symptoms do not progress.

It is usually treated in the burn ward of a hospital with treatments focusing on controlling symptoms and minimizing complications.

If you or a loved one begins to display Stevens Johnson Syndrome symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. If you suffered an allergic drug reaction that induced SJS or TEN, you may be eligible for legal compensation. A specialized attorney can help.