Burn unit treatment of acute, severe exfoliating disorders.

In this chapter, we review the experience gained in the burn unit treatment of two of the severe exfoliating disorders, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and the Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Septic mortality was higher if high doses of corticosteroids were given versus the current protocol, which avoids these drugs. Current controversies include the role of topical therapy, leukopenia, and invasive catheters in septic complications as well as nutritional requirements. Concomitant viral infection and the macrophage may each play a role in the etiology of TEN and SJS.