The Journal of investigative dermatology
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J. Invest. Dermatol. · Jun 1994
ReviewEpidemiologic approaches to the study of toxic epidermal necrolysis.
The appropriate epidemiologic strategy for studying the etiology of toxic epidermal necrolysis is determined by the characteristics of the disease, particularly its rarity and the fact that it is caused by numerous drugs. Although information about drugs as risk factors can in principal be obtained from case reports and experimental studies, the former are subject to bias and the latter are impractical because toxic epidermal necrolysis is so rare. Cohort studies are also impractical because of the rarity of the outcome. ⋯ As of June, 1993, 459 cases and 1299 controls have been enrolled. At the scheduled end of data collection in 1995, the projected totals are 691 cases and 1956 controls. These large numbers will allow for the detailed evaluation of even relatively uncommonly used drugs, for the evaluation of more commonly used drugs in relation to subtypes of toxic epidermal necrolysis/Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and for the comparison of results between countries.