Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

The nurse practitioner manages Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) through SCORTEN-guided prognostication, evidence-based pharmacotherapy decisions, and multidisciplinary coordination. SCORTEN (SCORe of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis) is validated as the most accurate prognostic tool, calculated within 24 hours of admission and repeated at day 3. Seven independent predictors each score 1 point: age >40, active malignancy, heart rate >120/min, initial BSA of epidermal detachment >10%, serum BUN >28 mg/dL, serum glucose >252 mg/dL, and serum bicarbonate <20 mEq/L. Predicted mortality: 0-1 points = 3.2%, 2 = 12.1%, 3 = 35.3%, 4 = 58.3%, ≥5 = 90%. The NP must make critical drug causality determinations using the ALDEN algorithm (Algorithm of Drug Causality for Epidermal Necrolysis), which scores drugs based on: latency from drug start to reaction onset (4-28 days for first exposure is most suspicious), prior history of reaction, dechallenge (improvement after stopping), drug notoriety (known association — allopurinol, sulfonamides, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, nevirapine are highest-risk), and alternative causes. Pharmacological management remains controversial: systemic corticosteroids (debated — may increase infection risk), IVIG (evidence mixed), cyclosporine (most promising emerging data —...