Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare and potentially deadly dermatological reaction to prescription medication. But a recent Stevens Johnson Syndrome study has shown that it may not be as rare as once thought.

According to a newer Stevens Johnson Syndrome study, the occurence of SJS is higher than was once thought. Derek Hsu of Northwestern University says, “The incidence of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome appears to be higher than previously reported, though mortality rates are lower.”

Hsu goes on to explain that diagnoses of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, as well as the more serious Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, are linked to a number of immune system disorders. This suggests that “immune dysregulation” contributes to these diseases.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is an immune system response that first begins with symptoms similar to the flu. It progresses to a skin rash and then lesions appear on the body. SJS causes the epidermis to separate from the dermis and also attacks the mucous membranes of the body, including the eyes and mouth.

Post-separation, areas of skin of a patient’s body may peel off and this can lead to severe infection. When it progresses further to attack more of the skin’s surface, the condition is called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, or TEN.

Both Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis should be treated quickly at the nearest hospital. Recovery from these conditions may take months. In some cases, death occurs.

Recent Stevens Johnson Syndrome Study Shows Higher Incident Rate

In 1991, a population-based Stevens Johnson Syndrome study in the United States found the annual incidence rates for these conditions fell between 2.6 and 7.1 cases per million individuals.

When looking at this older study, Hsu found that more recent studies have been limited to case series mostly, and that current statistics regarding incidence, mortality and health care costs were unknown.

Because of this, Hsu and some associates began to analyze date from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2009 to 2012 which covers 20% of hospitalizations in this country.

In their Stevens Johnson Syndrome Study, they found that the estimated annual incidence of SJS ranged from 8.6 to 9.8 cases per million, with a mean of 9.3 cases per million.

They also found that rates of combined Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis was lower at a rate of 1.6 cases per million annually.

Hsu’s SJS study found that inpatients who were white were less likely to have diagnoses than black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American or mixed ethnicity patients.

They also found that patients who were diagnosed with SJS stayed in the hospital for an average of 9.8 days and incurred $21, 407 in mean inflation-adjusted treatment costs.

Hsu noted that fatality increased in patients who had septicemia, other infections, renal failures, cancers and in those of older age.