Toxic epidermal necrolysis: five years of treatment experience from a burn unit.

Background: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a serious drug eruption that results in death in approximately 25% to 50% of patients. There is controversy over whether SCORTEN accurately predicts mortality or if treatment interventions such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) can alter mortality.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether SCORTEN accurately predicts mortality in this cohort, whether IVIg improved survival, and which drugs and medical comorbidities impacted mortality.

Recalcitrant cicatricial pemphigoid treated with the anti-TNF-alpha agent etanercept.

Cicatricial pemphigoid (mucous membrane pemphigoid) is a group of chronic disorders characterized by recurrent subepithelial blisters and scarring, predominantly of the mucous membranes. The authors report the case of a 63-year-old female with a 20-year history of cicatricial pemphigoid who had failed treatment with cytoxan, dapsone, systemic steroids and minocycline. She achieved complete clinical remission with the addition of etanercept 50 mg twice a week with azathioprine 150 mg daily.

Exertional heatstroke in an infantry soldier taking ephedra-containing dietary supplements.

This is a case report of a highly trained, heat-acclimatized infantry soldier who suffered from exertional heatstroke during a 12-mile road march shortly after taking an ephedra-based supplement. Heatstroke is associated with systemic complications and a high mortality rate if not recognized early. Control of risk factors is key to the prevention of heatstroke.