ABSTRACT
The incidence of carbamazepine-induced SJS/TEN in some Southeastern Asian countries such as Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines is 10-fold higher than in European countries, the United States, and Japan (22,23). Population allele frequencies of HLA-B*1502 in Southeastern Asian countries are much higher (2-12%) than in Caucasians (rare) and in East Asian countries (Japan and Korea, 0-0.4%) (24), and this HLA type may be causative for the higher incidence of carbamazepine-induced SJS/TEN observed in Southeastern Asian countries.
