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Risk of toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome associated with benzodiazepines: a population-based cohort study

  • Pharmacoepidemiology and Prescription
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Abstract

Purpose

We aim to estimate the incidence of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) among tetrazepam users and compare it with benzodiazepine users in a Spanish primary care database (BIFAP). The incidence in the general population (GenPop) and among phenytoin new users (as a positive control) was also estimated.

Methods

We identified a cohort of GenPop free of SJS/TEN (N = 3,155,364). Cohort entry was the date after 1 year of register with the physician during 2001–2011. No age restrictions were applied. Patients were followed from entry up to the first of the following: a record of SJS/TEN (potential cases), death, end of information, or December 2011. History of potential cases were manually reviewed blinded to exposure and considered “probable” when diagnosed in referral reports. Three cohorts of patients newly prescribed with benzodiazepines (N = 531,813), tetrazepam (N = 343,568), or phenytoin (N = 4993) were extracted from the GenPop cohort. Incidence rate (cases per million person-years (py)) for the GenPop and cumulative incidence (per million new users) during the first 9 weeks after each drug prescription were computed.

Results

In the GenPop, 48 probable cases (38 SJS and 10 TEN) were identified (3.21/million py; 3.37 in men and 2.94 in women). In the benzodiazepines cohort, 2 probable TEN cases was identified (3.76/mill.). In the tetrazepam cohort, 1 probable SJS/TEN case was identified (2.91/mill.). In the phenytoin cohort, 4 probable cases (2 SJS and 2 TEN) were identified (801.12/mill.).

Conclusions

The incidence of SJS/TEN in tetrazepam users was very rare and similar to benzodiazepines users. The incidence in the GenPop and among users of phenytoin agreed with the literature.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the excellent collaboration of general practitioners and pediatricians taking part in BIFAP.

Funding

FdA collaboration was supported by a research grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III—Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Grant No. PI12/02267).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of the co-authors’ respective companies or organizations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BIFAP Research Unit, Spanish Agency on Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), C/ Campezo n° 1, Edificio 8, 28022, Madrid, Spain

    Elisa Martín-Merino & Miguel Gil

  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    Francisco J. de Abajo

  3. Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    Francisco J. de Abajo

Authors
  1. Elisa Martín-Merino
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  2. Francisco J. de Abajo
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Correspondence to Elisa Martín-Merino.

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Martín-Merino, E., de Abajo, F.J. & Gil, M. Risk of toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome associated with benzodiazepines: a population-based cohort study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 71, 759–766 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-015-1850-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-015-1850-y

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