What are the arguments for the use of systemic corticosteroid therapy for EMM and SJS?
Advocates for systemic corticosteroid use for EMM and SJS suggest that early administration in the course of the disease is essential. Yeung notes that if systemic corticosteroids are given later in the course of the disease, they “might not be found helpful and could contribute to an increased risk of infection, which could account for the complications reported in the Rasmussen study.”[9] A review by Kakuorou et al also agreed that the “higher rate of these effects may be related to delayed initiation of and prolonged administration of corticosteroids.”[15] Kardaun and Jonkman concur that the “general negative opinion of corticosteroids is probably because they are often given too late, in too low a dose, and for too long a period” and admit that during “the healing phase corticosteroids may indeed impair wound healing and promote sepsis.”[7] Patterson et al prospectively evaluated 67 patients, finding that systemic corticosteroid use in SJS demonstrated an improved outcome with no i
