The SCORTEN Scale is a severity-of-illness scale with which the severity of certain bullous conditions can be systematically determined. It was originally developed for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis,[1] but can be used with burn victims, sufferers of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, cutaneous drug reactions, or exfoliative wounds. These conditions have in common that they compromise the integrity of the skin and/or mucous membranes.
In the SCORTEN Scale 7 independent risk factors for high mortality are systematically scored, so as to determine the mortality rate for that particular patient.
| Risk factor | 0 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Age | < 40 years | > 40 years |
| Associated malignancy | no | yes |
| Heart rate (beats/min) | <120 | >120 |
| Serum BUN (mg/dL) | <27 | >27 |
| Detached or compromised body surface | <10% | >10% |
| Serum bicarbonate (mEq/L) | >20 | <20 |
| Serum glucose (mg/dL) | <250 | >250 |
The more risk factors present, the higher the SCORTEN score, and the higher the mortality rate, as shown in the following table.
| No of risk factors | Mortality rate |
|---|---|
| 0-1 | 3.2% |
| 2 | 12.1% |
| 3 | 35.3% |
| 4 | 58.3% |
| 5 or more | >90% |
The term "SCORTEN" stands for SCORe of Toxic Epidermal Necrosis.