Stevens Johnson Syndrome
Stevens
Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis are life-threatening
conditions. Although infrequent, these conditions kill or severely disable
previously healthy people. ( Roujeau, 1995 )
Both diseases are characterized by rapidly expanding rashes and blisters,
often with atypical (flat, irregular) target lesion, and include involvement
of the mucous membranes (mouth, eyes, and genital areas).
Stevens Johnson Syndrome
is a fatal medical condition which has been associated with
Motrin & Tylenol
MOTRIN
A seemingly harmless medication may be quite harmful, even
fatal?
Skin Reactions
NSAIDs, including
MOTRIN Suspension, can cause serious skin adverse events such as exfoliative
dermatitis, Stevens- Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis
(TEN), which can be fatal. These serious events may occur without warning.
Patients should be informed about the signs and symptoms of serious skin
manifestations and use of the drug should be discontinued at the first appearance
of skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity.
PubMed
search --
Tylenol®
Acetaminophen-related acute liver failure in the United States.
TYLENOL
Allergic
Reaction
Multiple blisters
Blisters appear
surrounded by pale red rings, also called a "target"
Blistering
rash on face, lips, mouth,
upper body, legs,
arms, palms, hands
Causes
of SJS / TEN
Drugs cause over 80% of all cases
of SJS / TEN. However, 90-95% of TEN cases are caused only by medications.
While there have been very rare reports of infections causing SJS and TEN,
most of those case reports were published long before scalded skin syndrome
and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis were distinguished by biopsy, making these
cases more likely to have been caused by a drug. The rarity of these reports
cast doubt on the reliability of information taken regarding drug intake,
and doesn't change the fact that almost all cases of TEN are always caused
by a single drug.
NSAIDs have recently been recognized
by the scientific community to be one of the leading causes of SJS and TEN.
A recently published study reported significantly increased risk for ibuprofen
in an epidemiologic study published in 2003. ( Mockenhaupt,
et. al. 2003 ; Lesko,
et. al. 1995. ) Anti convulsants
and antibiotics are the other leading causes of these diseases.
There is also some evidence to support
that pre-existing infections coupled with the ingestion of one of these drugs
mentioned above causes a synergistic effect that leads to SJS and Toxic Epidermal
Necrolysis, including antibiotics and OTC medications like Children's Advil
and Children's Motrin.
Treatment
and Outcomes
Obviously, the identification of the
responsible drug is important so that the causative drug can be withdrawn
or the person can be instructed to stop taking it.
One study has shown that the mortality
rate can be reduced by 30% every day by stopping the drug responsible for
the reaction. ( Garcia-Doval,
2000)
The care of patients
with SJS and TEN usually requires that they be placed in a burn unit, which
is a highly specialized unit that cares for burn victims with the 2nd and
3rd degree burns that SJS and TEN causes all over the body.
IVIG treatment has shown to reverse
the immunological cascade that promotes the spread of SJS and TEN, and meticulous
wound care also reduces the morbidity and mortality associated with these
diseases.
SJS
Resources
The Jensen Law firm knows that finding
and receiving expert care after a person develops Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
(SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is important medically and legally.
So we work with doctors who specialize in the treatment of Stevens-Johnson
Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (burn surgeons, eye surgeons, dermatologists
and others) in order to provide you and your family with the knowledge necessary
to help your loved ones survive this tragedy, and to best represent you against
the drug companies who caused the tragedy.
You have a real risk from drug treatments
that have severe side
effects that can cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.
Experienced
Stevens
- Johnson Syndrome Attorney
Keith
Jensen is known for successes in litigating Stevens Johnson Syndrome
and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis cases, and has recently settled claims against
some of the largest drug companies in the world for many SJS and TEN victims.
So when you are considering what
law firm you are going to engage to represent you in your claims against
the drug companies remember Mr. Jensen actually has obtained recoveries for
Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis victims and their
families across the country.
The Jensen Law Firm is dedicated not
only to the investigation and prosecution of Stevens Johnson Syndrome and
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis cases but the advancement of stronger warnings
and greater consumer awareness regarding these conditions. It is our goal
to use the law to reduce the number of people victimized by these lethal
syndromes in the future. Drug companies have no shortage of resources or
money. It is important that you hire a firm that has taken a massive drug
company to court and prevailed. Keith Jensen has done so repeatedly. Should
your case merit we will do all it takes legally and financially to bring
your case to trial. We utilize state of the art exhibits, audio and video
presenters and we retain highly qualified experts in the field of SJS / TEN.
If
your case has sufficient merit we will not refer your case to another attorney
capable of trying a case against a major drug company, because Keith Jensen
is an attorney who can do just that.
Unfortunately, a lot of drugs cause
SJS and TEN. Mr. Jensen has invested in and acquired scientific databases
which identify most or all of the adverse event reports associated with what
is believed to be virtually every drug sold that has been reported in association
with SJS and TEN. This is another example of the fact that Keith Jensen will
leave no stone unturned in handling meritorious SJS and TEN cases.
While there are other firms that
consider cases involving Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrosis.
Mr. Jensen has invested the time and resources necessary to understand these
often catastrophic syndromes, what causes them, how devastating they can
be to both the victim and the family and how to find the best medical care
for you or your loved one. He is committed to his clients, and offers not
only quality legal services, but also a genuine concern for the welfare and
wellbeing of those that seek his counsel.
Our law firm is
dedicated to providing you the most up-to-date information about your legal
rights, medical and scientific issues and how to find the best medical care
for your loved one.
Keith
Jensen's recent experience against big drug companies
In 2004, Mr. Jensen, and one other
attorney, tried the third "Round 2" fen-phen case in the country against
one of the largest drug companies in the world. The case was tried in Texas
against Wyeth, formerly, American Home Products Corporation.
Wyeth had a dream team of 16 attorneys,
including defense attorney Dan Webb, famous for representing GE, Microsoft & Big
Tobacco. In the third week of trial the dream team was scheduled to bring
two doctor-witnesses. They brought zero, they relented, they settled.
In 2005, Mr.
Jensen tried a fen-phen case for four weeks in Philadelphia. This time the
drug company brought 23 attorneys to oppose Mr. Jensen and one other attorney.
The Bloomberg news reported: "The confidential settlement comes shortly before
a Philadelphia jury was set to find the women were entitled to $6 million."
In 2006, Mr.
Jensen filed over fifteen (15) Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal
Necrolysis lawsuits against major drug companies and twelve (12) of his clients
claims were settled without the need to pick a jury or even appear in Court.
Some of these cases were settled within four (4) months of the Jensen Law
Firm being hired.
In 2007, Mr.
Jensen’s resolved five (5) major SJS/TEN cases against one of the largest
drug companies in the world. These five clients are the first known
people to ever recover from the manufacturer on SJS/TEN claims for the culprit
drug involved.
In 2008, Mr.
Jensen was set to start a trial in Boston (beginning 1/3/08) against one
of the largest drug companies in the world. The case settled for a very significant
confidential sum. In May 2008, Mr. Jensen selected a jury in federal court
in Missouri. That day, in the courthouse, one of the largest drug companies
in the world settled for a very significant confidential sum.
In 2009, Mr.
Jensen settled numerous claims against a subsidiary of the largest drug company
in the world. Each of Mr. Jensen's clients had suffered deep vein thrombi
(DVT's) or pulmonary embolisms (PE's) as a result of a birth control patch.
Treatment &
Helpful Information
Introduction
In diagnosing a cutaneous eruption that may be an adverse
drug reaction it is important to decide whether the eruption is due to the
disease, primarily due to the drug, or due possibly to an interaction between
the disease and the drug. Cutaneous reactions frequently occur when patients
are receiving a number of drugs, and thus etiological relationship may be
difficult to assess.
