Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Definition: A systemic, serious, and life-threatening disorder characterized by lesions in the skin and mucous membranes that may lead to necrosis. The lesions may appear anywhere in the body but they occur more commonly in the palms, soles, dorsum of the hands, and extensor surfaces. The lesions are vesicular or necrotic in the center, surrounded by an erythematous zone and occupy less than 10% of the body surfaces. The appearance of the mucocutaneous lesions is preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection. It is an immune complex hypersensitivity reaction usually caused by drugs (e.g., sulfa, phenytoin, penicillin), viruses (e.g., herpes simplex, influenza, hepatitis), and malignancies (e.g., carcinoma and lymphoma).

Synonyms (terms occurring on more labels are shown first): Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Stevens Johnson syndrome, SJS, Stevens- Johnson syndrome, Steven-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme exudativum, Steven Johnson syndrome, Stevens - Johnson syndrome, Stevens-Johnsons syndrome, Stevens-Johnson-Syndrome, StevensJohnson syndrome, Stevens-Johnson- syndrome, Stevens -Johnson syndrome, Steven-Johnsons syndrome, Steven- Johnson syndrome, Stevens-Johnsonsyndrome, Stevens Johnson-syndrome, Ste-vens-Johnson syndrome, St evens-Johnson syndrome, erythema exudativum multiforme

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