Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis or TEN is a life-threatening disorder where patients lose large patches of skin, and need emergency medical care to survive. Since the vast majority of TEN cases can be traced to specific drugs, drug companies may face product liability lawsuits over the disorder.

TEN belongs to a class of disorders called autoimmune reactions. In autoimmune reactions, the body mistakes its own tissue for disease-causing invaders like bacteria or viruses. Lupus is a better-known disease from this family. In TEN, the damage is specific to the skin. Typically, TEN starts with a milder—but still potentially life-threatening—reaction called Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). SJS consists of a painful skin rash. The most serious cases of SJS escalate and become TEN.

In TEN, inflammation and other actions by the immune system kill patches of skin, which slough off. The damage closely resembles burns on the skin. In fact, hospitals often treat TEN cases in the burn wards of their ICUs. Physicians have little in the way of treatment options beyond “supportive therapy,” a medical term meaning “treating the symptoms until the reaction works itself out.” Up to 40 percent of patients die from the disorder, either from opportunistic infection or the damage to their airways.

Almost all cases of SJS and TEN can be traced back to specific drugs. There are many unknowns with TEN–no one knows exactly what people will develop the reaction from what drug. Certain populations seem to be more likely to suffer the disorder in response to certain medications. For example, certain seizure medications have been linked to cases of SJS and TEN.

Product liability lawsuits have been filed against drug companies by people suffering from SJS and TEN. These SJS/TEN lawsuits allege that the manufacturer was aware of these risks, but concealed them from the general public.

People who have filed these lawsuits seek various types of compensation. First, TEN is a major medical crisis. It typically entails weeks of intensive medical care. Medical emergencies tend to go hand-in-hand with massive medical bills.

And may people face continuing issues from TEN and related disorders. Massive, disfiguring scarring can require continuing medical care. Similarly, scarring to the internal organs can impair their function. Additionally, some cases can cause scarring on the eyes, resulting in permanent blindness. These disabilities can leave a person permanently unable to work to their previous capacity. In legal terms, this is described as “lost income potential,” and some lawsuits seek compensation for this.