PURPOSE: To assess the quality of life in patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). METHODS: Fourteen patients with SJS were evaluated between 1998 and 1999 at the External Disease and Cornea Service of the Dept. of Ophthalmology of UNIFESP. We used a S.F. 36 questionnaire. The score for the seven subitems was given based on described formula. High scores mean a better life condition. The same questionnaire was repeated 4 times in a 3 months period. RESULTS: The means of the means of the 4 questionnaire values for the 14 patients were decreased in all S.F. 36 subitems (41.04±22.38 for physical aspects, 53.82±22.82 for social aspects, 26.24±22.46 for emotional aspects, 34.95±25.45 for functional aspects, 42.03± 31.85 for pain, 46.33±18.37 for vitality, 46.18±24.83 for mental health and 50.26±16.29 for general health). CONCLUSION: The S.F. 36 questionnaire is an important method to assess physical and emotional aspects of patients with low vision. It allowed us to detect important limitations in patients with SJS. More patients with a larger follow up are necessary to improve our analysis and further evaluate the effects of psychological intervention.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome; Quality of life; Questionnaires
