Bleomycin induced flagellate erythema: Revisiting a unique complication

J Cancer Res Ther. 2013 Jul-Sep;9(3):500-3. doi: 10.4103/0973-1482.119358.

Abstract

Bleomycin induced flagellate dermatitis is a rare and unique adverse effect. With the declining use of bleomycin, this complication is becoming increasingly infrequent in common clinical practice. We herein describe a case of a 22-year-old Indian male with Hodgkin's lymphoma, Ann Arbor stage IIBEX developing flagellate dermatitis following 1(st) cycle of chemotherapy with ABVD regimen. The diagnostic dilemma in the illustrative case underscores the importance of awareness and prompt identification and treatment of this dermatological toxicity in limiting morbidity in patients undergoing bleomycin based combination chemotherapy. In patients having severe rash, bleomycin should be expeditiously discontinued. Omission of bleomycin does not compromise the treatment outcome in the majority of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / adverse effects*
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Bleomycin / adverse effects*
  • Bleomycin / therapeutic use
  • Erythema / chemically induced*
  • Erythema / diagnosis
  • Erythema / drug therapy
  • Erythema / pathology
  • Hodgkin Disease / complications*
  • Hodgkin Disease / diagnosis
  • Hodgkin Disease / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Bleomycin