title: The hand-foot syndrome--a frequent secondary manifestation in antineoplastic chemotherapy.
abstract: The hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia) designates acute, painful erythemas of the palms and soles of the feet caused by antineoplastic chemotherapies. The most frequent trigger substances are 5-fluoruracil and its derivates. At maximum severity, the HFS is bullous to erosive or ulcerous in character. The pathogenesis has not yet been clarified. Histologically, the HFS is characterized by a toxic keratinocyte reaction. Furthermore, there is sub-basal edema with a tendency to bullae, dilated blood and lymph capillaries and usually only mild perivascular lymphocytic infiltration. Early recognition and delineation from other differential diagnoses is prerequisite to targeted management of the disease. Depending on the severity, HFS requires dose reduction, interruption or switch in the antineoplastic chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine IV, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Saale, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janusch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: W Ch
authors.initials: WCh
authors.lastname: Marsch
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Holzhausen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kegel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Helmbold
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005472:Fluorouracil