Mother Loses 98 Percent of Skin to Stevens Johnson Syndrome

September 26, 2012, 2:30PM. By Heidi Turner

Dallas, TXBeing diagnosed with a serious condition is stressful enough, but developing a severe allergic reaction, such as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), to the medication makes a bad situation into a terrifying ordeal. Unfortunately, many patients are not aware of Stevens Johnson syndrome symptoms, so they do not know when they break out in a rash they may be on the brink of a medical emergency. And, because some drugs warn only about a rash but not about SJS, patients are not aware of the risks of a life-threatening condition.

One woman in Europe knows how terrifying Stevens Johnson Syndrome can be. The 46-year-old mother from Chichester, Sussex, experienced her horrific reaction to Quinoric (known generically as hydroxychloroquine and sold in the US as Plaquenil) after taking the medication for lupus. According to the Daily Mail (8/27/12), she lost 98 percent of her skin and all of her hair. Her eyeballs peeled and she was covered in third-degree burns.

Mary Holder's ordeal began in January 2011, when she was diagnosed with lupus and prescribed Quinoric. After only four pills, Mary suffered shortness of breath. Initially, a doctor prescribed steroids as a treatment, but Mary's condition worsened. By the time she was diagnosed with SJS, it was almost too late. Medical professionals advised Mary to say good-bye to her family, but she pulled through, although she suffered permanent damage.

Since her ordeal, Mary has fought to ensure the risk of Stevens Johnson Syndrome be included on the information package for Quinoric. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has since asked the maker of Quinoric, Bristol Laboratories, to provide a pamphlet highlighting the potential for side effects associated with the drug.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome and its more severe form, toxic epidermal necrolysis, are serious allergic reactions to medications. They can arise at any time, even if the medication has previously been well-tolerated, and are linked to a variety of common medications, including ibuprofen. Patients are often treated in hospital burn wards because their skin can peel off and they suffer burn-related injuries including severe blistering. Some patients who develop SJS do not survive, while those that do often have permanent injuries including photosensitivity, pain and scarring.

Lawsuits have been filed against some drug companies for failing to adequately warn about the risks of Stevens Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.