title: The cutaneous side-effects of hydroxyurea.
abstract: The cutaneous side-effects of long-term hydroxyurea therapy are not widely known and only rarely reported. We report on a patient who developed widespread skin changes, including the recently recognized hydroxyurea dermopathy, during long-term treatment with hydroxyurea for polycythaemia rubra vera. The time course of the clinical changes suggests that they result from direct toxicity of hydroxyurea on the basal layer of the epidermis and mucosal surfaces. We aim to increase clinical awareness of this problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Burnley General Hospital, Burnley, UK.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kendra
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Coulson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007642:Keratosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006918:Hydroxyurea