A multiple centers case-control study for identification of genetic risk to Steven Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis syndrome (SJS/TENS) in Thailand. It was a surprise for us discovered that the number of patients affected by SJS/TENS is among the top of the world. It was not until in 2004, that the discovery of HLA-B*1502 associated with SJS/TENS from carbamazepine and subsequently HLA-B*5801 association with SJS/TENS from allopurinol that showed us some clues about the high number of SJS/TENS in Thailand. About 15% of Thais carries HLA-B*1502 and another 15% carries the HLA-B*5801, it is becoming clearer that the high number of SJS/TENS might not be a co-incidence but high risk of a particular population based on the genetic background. This is also interesting research topics, to identify the novel genetic risk associated with other drugs that caused SJS/TENS.

Currently, 16 tertiary and secondary hospitals are participating in this study, and the number is keep growing, we are planning to collect 1,000 cases of SJS/TENS in the next 3 years. Thanks to the integrative pharmacovigilance network that have been setting up in Thai FDA.

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