Epidemio-Clinical Profile of the Symbpharon during Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) at the Institute of African Tropical Ophthalmology-Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Symblepharon is a lesion on the ocular surface associated or not with ocular adnexa damage. Symblepharon is characterized by the formation of an adhesion between the palpebral conjunctiva and the bulbary conjunctiva. There are many causes of symblepharon, among which toxic epidermal necrolysis is the most well-known and documented due to the extreme severity of ocular damage. Hence the purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiological-clinical profile of the symbpharon during the toxic epidermal necrosis for adequate and appropriate management. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study, lasting 24 months from 18 March 2018 to 17 March 2020 at CHUIOTA. All patients who consented and had the symblepharon regardless of sex and age were compiled in a nonprobability sample. Results: During the 2 years, 11 patients were collected. There were 4 Men and 7 Women. The average age of our patients was 36.81 14.60 years, the age extremes ranged from 7 years old to 65 years old. The association of Nevirapine and Cotrimoxazole was frequently incriminated in 36.4% of our patients. More than half of the symblepharon were anterior (55% of the cases). Discussion: The bilaterality of ocular damage would be related on the one hand to the immunological mechanisms of toxic epidermal necrolysis, and the association of Nevirapine with Cotrimoxazole on the other. Conclusion: A rare disease, toxic epidermal necrolysis often leads to severe ocular complications.