Table 3.
Drug classes deemed responsible for the cutaneous adverse reactions occurred in the context of hospitalisations with an associated diagnosis of erythema multiforme (EM) or Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN); Mainland Portugal, 2009–2014 (n = 254 hospitalisations)
| Drug class—n (%) | Cutaneous adverse reactions | SJS/TEN | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EM (N = 122) | SJS/TEN (N = 132) | P value | SJS (N = 73) | SJS–TEN overlapa (N = 18) | TEN (N = 41) | P value | |
| Antibiotics | 36 (29.5) | 34 (25.8) | 0.504 | 18 (24.7) | 6 (33.3) | 10 (24.4) | 0.731 |
| Penicillins | 9 (7.4) | 9 (6.8) | 0.862 | 2 (2.7) | 4 (22.2) | 3 (7.3) | 0.016 |
| Other specified antibioticsa | 22 (18.0) | 22 (16.7) | 0.774 | 14 (19.2) | 1 (5.6) | 7 (17.1) | 0.380 |
| Unspecified antibiotics | 4 (3.3) | 2 (1.5) | 0.431 | 1 (1.4) | – | 1 (2.4) | 0.999 |
| Other anti-infectives | 10 (8.2) | 18 (13.6) | 0.167 | 12 (16.4) | 4 (22.2) | 2 (4.9) | 0.117 |
| Sulfonamides | 4 (3.3) | 8 (6.1) | 0.296 | 5 (6.8) | 2 (11.1) | 1 (2.4) | 0.285 |
| Antimycobacterial drugs | 1 (0.8) | 2 (1.5) | 0.999 | 2 (2.7) | – | – | 0.654 |
| Antiviral drugs | 1 (0.8) | 7 (5.3) | 0.068 | 4 (5.5) | 2 (11.1) | 1 (2.4) | 0.340 |
| Hormones and synthetic substitutes | 7 (5.7) | 7 (5.3) | 0.879 | 5 (6.8) | 2 (11.1) | – | 0.126 |
| Antineoplastic and immunosuppressive drugsb | 13 (10.7) | 7 (5.3) | 0.114 | 3 (4.1) | 1 (5.6) | 3 (7.3) | 0.759 |
| Agents primarily affecting blood constituents | – | 4 (3.0) | 0.123 | 2(2.7) | 1 (5.6) | 1 (2.4) | 0.611 |
| Analgesics, antipyretics, and antirheumatics | 11 (9.0) | 7 (5.3) | 0.249 | 3 (4.1) | 1 (5.6) | 3 (7.3) | 0.759 |
| Anticonvulsants | 13 (10.7) | 22 (16.7) | 0.165 | 12 (16.4) | 2 (11.1) | 8 (19.5) | 0.726 |
| Sedatives and hypnotics | – | 1 (0.8) | 0.999 | – | 1 (5.6) | – | 0.136 |
| Psychotropic agents | 2 (1.6) | 4 (3.0) | 0.685 | 2 (2.7) | – | 2 (4.9) | 0.789 |
| Agents primarily affecting the cardiovascular system | 2 (1.6) | 2 (1.5) | 0.999 | 1 (1.4) | – | 1 (2.4) | 0.999 |
| Uric acid metabolism drugsc | 21 (17.2) | 26 (19.7) | 0.611 | 17 (23.3) | 2 (11.1) | 7 (17.1) | 0.447 |
| Agents primarily acting on the smooth and skeletal muscles and respiratory system | 1 (0.8) | – | 0.480 | – | – | – | |
| Agents primarily affecting skin and mucous membrane, ophthalmological, otorhinolaryngological and dental drugs | 1 (0.8) | – | 0.480 | – | – | – | |
| Other and unspecified drugs and medicinal substancesd | 9 (7.4) | 12 (9.1) | 0.620 | 7 (9.6) | – | 5 (12.2) | 0.368 |
aIncludes, among others, macrolides, tetracyclines, and cephalosporins
bThese were the only drugs of the class “primarily systemic agents” in which cutaneous adverse reactions were registered
cThese were the only drugs of the class “water, mineral, and uric acid metabolism drugs” in which cutaneous adverse reactions were registered
dThere were no cutaneous adverse reactions associated with use of drugs belonging to the classes “other central nervous system depressants and anesthetics”, “central nervous system stimulants”, “drugs primarily affecting the autonomic nervous system” and “agents primarily affecting gastrointestinal system”