Persistent supravenous erythematous eruption: a rare local complication of intravenous 5-fluorouracil therapy.
We describe a 47-year-old man who developed a linear serpentine erythematous eruption, overlying the superficial veins on both arms, after treatment with intravenous 5-fluorouracil. No evidence of superficial phlebitis or extravasation were observed. Histologically, a prominent vacuolar alteration of basal cells, necrotic keratinocytes, pigment incontinence, and a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in the upper dermis were observed. In a review of the literature we encountered only 5 reports of a similar clinicopathologic picture. The term "persistent supravenous erythematous eruption" (PSEE) seems suitable to describe this rare and peculiar cutaneous eruption that develops after intravenous cytotoxic drug treatment.
Pujol
R M
RM
Department of Dermatology, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. rmpujol@usa.net
Rocamora
V
V
Lopez-Pousa
A
A
Taberner
R
R
Alomar
A
A
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020405:Dermis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014680:Veins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil