A study by RUDN University scientists took the silver medal at the Congress on pharmacotherapy

RUDN University scientists became the laureates of the silver medal of the “Noli nocere!” award for the best scientific article in the field of pharmacotherapy safety by the end of 2024. The article by our scientists was devoted to the study of the causes of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

SJS and TEN are extremely severe, life-threatening skin reactions that can occur in response to the use of various drugs and are manifested by the mass death of epidermal cells and its detachment, as a result, a person practically loses his skin.

• SJS affects <10% of the body surface.
• At the intersection of SJS and TEN — from 10% to 30% of the body surface.
• When TEN is >30% of the surface, it is the most severe form.

The author's team led by Sergey Zyryanov, Head of the Department of General and Clinical Pharmacology at RUDN, studied the structure of drugs causing SJS and TEN based on the Russian pharmacovigilance database (2019-2023). The largest number of spontaneous reports included information about TEN (67.1%).

Key findings:

• Among all cases of SJS and TEN, the structure of suspected drugs was led by the antiepileptic drug lamotrigine, it was also the main drug identified in fatal cases of SJS and TEN.
• The second place in the total structure was occupied by such a common anti-inflammatory drug as ibuprofen.
• Among antibacterial drugs, the greatest danger was revealed for the third generation cephalosporin ceftriaxone, it held the third place in the total structure.
• 30% of SJS and TEN cases occurred in the pediatric population, 21.2% in elderly and elderly patients.
• All 12 deaths were associated with TEN, and the patients who died were older than the average risk group.
• Practical significance: the results will help physicians to assess risks when prescribing therapy, especially more accurately in vulnerable groups.

The Congress is organized by the “Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education” (RMANPO) with the support of the Department of Medical Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Association of Clinical Pharmacologists, the National Medical Chamber, the National Pharmaceutical Chamber, and the National Pharmacovigilance Research Center.