Protective effect of doxorubicin in vitamin C or dimethyl sulfoxide against skin ulceration in the pig.
BACKGROUND
Accidental extravasation of doxorubicin leads to skin necrosis and significant morbidity. Based on our previous work in the rat, we hypothesized that the free radical scavengers dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and vitamin C prevent doxorubicin-induced skin ulcers in white swine.


METHODS
Fifteen white swine were anesthetized and injected with 0.5 mg of doxorubicin (1 mg/ml) intradermally delivered in saline, 10% DMSO, 20% DMSO, vitamin C (1 mg/ml), or vitamin C in 20% DMSO. Presence of skin ulceration and ulcer size, in the two greatest dimensions, was determined weekly for 3 weeks.


RESULTS
Delivery of doxorubicin in DMSO and/or vitamin C lowered the ulcer incidence from 87% to 27% (p < 0.0001) when compared with delivery in saline.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the free radical scavengers DMSO and vitamin C are capable of lowering the incidence of doxorubicin-induced skin ulcers and could significantly lessen the morbidity associated with doxorubicin extravasation.
Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Portland.
H
H
Hajarizadeh
L
L
Lebredo
R
R
Barrie
E A
EA
Woltering
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015994:Incidence; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013552:Swine
D004338:Drug Combinations; D004317:Doxorubicin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide