Quattrone F, Dini V, Barbanera S, Zerbinati N, Romanelli M, et al.
Journal of tissue viability. Date of publication 2013 Nov 1;volume 22(4):112-21.
1. J Tissue Viability. 2013 Nov;22(4):112-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jtv.2013.08.002. Epub
2013 Aug 28.
Cutaneous ulcers associated with hydroxyurea therapy.
Quattrone F(1), Dini V, Barbanera S, Zerbinati N, Romanelli M.
Author information:
(1)Scuola Superiore S. Anna, Pisa, Italy.
Hydroxyurea is an antitumoral drug mainly used in the treatment of Philadelphia
chromosome-negative myeloproliferative syndromes and sickle-cell disease. Ulcers
represent a rare but severe long-term adverse effect of hydroxyurea therapy.
Hydroxyurea-induced ulcers are often multiple and bilateral, typically developing
in the perimalleolar region, although any cutaneous district is potentially
affected. They generally look small, well-defined, shallow with an adherent,
yellow, fibrinous necrotic base. A constant finding is also an extremely intense,
treatment-resistant pain accompanying these ulcerations. Withdrawal of the drug
generally leads to spontaneous healing of these lesions. Care providers tend to
show insufficient awareness of this highly debilitating cutaneous side effect,
and late or missed diagnoses are frequent. Instead, regular dermatologic
screening should be performed on hydroxyurea-treated patients. This article will
present a comprehensive review of indexed case reports and clinical studies,
followed by a discussion about treatment options aiming at increasing knowledge
about this specific topic.
Copyright © 2013 Tissue Viability Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights
reserved.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtv.2013.08.002
PMID: 24050921 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
