title: Drug-induced pruritic micropapular eruption: anastrozole, a commonly used aromatase inhibitor.
abstract: Anastrozole, a selective nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor is widely used as an adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal women with early hormone-sensitive breast cancer. There are few reports on cutaneous side effects of anastrozole. It may induce subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, erythema nodosum, cutaneous vasculitis, and nondescript skin eruptions. A 68-year-old woman was prescribed anastrozole after surgical removal of her breast cancer and adjuvant radiation therapy. Two months later she experienced a generalized pruritic micropapular eruption. History, clinical presentation, histology and inadvertent re-exposure to the drug confirmed that anastrozole triggered the exanthem. Pruritic micropapular eruption is a typical pattern for a drug hypersensitivity reaction. Anastrozole should be added to the list of medications able to induce not only non-specific eruptions but the type of exanthem typically triggered by drugs.
authors.forename: Tomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bremec
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Demsar
authors.forename: Bostjan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luzar
authors.forename: Milos D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pavlović
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000077384:Anastrozole; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012532:Scabies / Q000175:diagnosis; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077384:Anastrozole