Study To Evaluate The Efficacy Of Tofacitinib In Patients With SJS/TEN

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) belong to life-threatening severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions. SJS/TEN is classified by the extent of the detachment over the total body-surface area: SJS (<10%), SJS-TEN overlap (10%-30%), and TEN (>30%). TEN has the highest mortality (30-35%); SJS and transitional forms correspond to the same syndrome, but with less extensive skin detachment and a lower mortality (5-15%). Currently, there is still no conclusive effective immunomodulator treatment for SJS/TEN. And, there is still a clinical unmet need for the treatment of SJS/TEN.

According to our past research reports, interleukin-15 (IL-15) plays an important role in SJS/TEN, which is related to disease severity and mortality. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors can inhibit the downstream JAK to inhibit the production and transmission of inflammatory cytokines, as a treatment for severe skin drug hypersensitivity reactions. Tofacitinib, a JAK1/3 inhibitor, is an intervention known to effectively treat several inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Notably, a recent study identified a potential therapeutic target with JAK-STAT pathway in a patient with recalcitrant and refractory drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Based the current evidence, a targeting therapy to IL-15 by tofacitinib treatment are suggesting likely to be effective in treating SJS/TEN.

This is an "open label" study, all patients enrolled in the study will receive the active medication; meaning that there will not be a placebo or control group. The aims of this project are (1) to investigate the effect of tofacitinib treatment for SJS/TEN patients, including healing time, mortality rate, adverse events, beginning of re-epithelialization time, internal organ recovery time, and ocular complications, and (2) to investigate the molecular mechanism of SJS/TEN after tofacitinib treatment through collection of timed samples to include DNA, RNA, PBMCs, blister cells and supernatant and skin tissue.

The primary outcome of the study is the time to complete re-epithelialization as defined by complete absence of erosion on the skin. The secondary outcomes are to determine the time to beginning of epithelization (defined as the time to start re-epithelialization of the erosions on the skin and mucosa), the time to halting of progression of SJS/TEN (considered significant progression if there are any new blistering lesions or any new detached or detachable skin), mortality, length of hospitalization, ocular complications, infections, and adverse events. The investigators also determine the molecular and cellular mechanisms of SJS/TEN through collection of timed samples to include DNA, RNA, PBMCs, blister cells and supernatant and skin tissue.

Inclusion criteria

• Willing to sign inform consent form
• Subject has been diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis by at least two dermatologists.
• Male or female aged over 20 years old and under 90 years old.

Exclusion criteria

• Subject or legally authorized representative is not willing to provide informed consent.
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Subject has an active, untreated, or serious infectious disease that is ineffective in treatment, such as sepsis.
• Subject suffers from severe life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia, such as ventricular tachycardia, have had myocardial infarction (myocardial infarction), severe hypertension that has not responded to treatment within the past week, or other cardiologist diagnosed severe cardiovascular disease
• Subject has active viral hepatitis
• Subject has active tuberculosis
• Subject received live vaccination during the illness