Acral erythema

Acral Erythema also known as Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia is a skin condition characterized by redness, swelling, and pain on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. It is often associated with chemotherapy treatment, particularly with drugs such as doxorubicin, fluorouracil, and capecitabine.

Symptoms

The primary symptoms of acral erythema include redness, swelling, and pain in the hands and feet. These symptoms typically develop within days to weeks of starting chemotherapy treatment. In severe cases, the skin may peel or develop blisters, and the patient may have difficulty walking or using their hands.

Causes

Acral erythema is most commonly caused by certain chemotherapy drugs, including doxorubicin, fluorouracil, and capecitabine. The exact mechanism by which these drugs cause acral erythema is not fully understood, but it is thought to involve damage to the small blood vessels in the skin.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of acral erythema is typically based on the patient's symptoms and their recent history of chemotherapy treatment. In some cases, a skin biopsy may be performed to rule out other potential causes of the symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment for acral erythema primarily involves managing the symptoms and may include topical creams to soothe the skin, pain medication, and in some cases, dose reduction or discontinuation of the chemotherapy drug. In severe cases, hospitalization may be required.

See Also

• Chemotherapy
• Dermatology
• Oncology