Reactions 424 - 24 Oct 1992

Antineoplastics

Leuconychia: 2 case reportsTwo patients who had been receiving treatment with

cytostatic agents presented with whitish bands on theirfingernails (leuconychia).

The first patient was a 17-year-old man who had beenreceiving cyclical treatment with combinations ofcyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide andprednisone over 4-month periods for abdominal lymphoma.He demonstrated Muerhcke lines which are produced byalterations in the nail bed.

The second patient, a 25-year-old man, had been receivingcyclical treatment with cyclophosphamide, vincristine,doxorubicin and decarbazine over several months forlymphoblastic lymphoma and leiosarcoma with associatedbone metastases. He showed true leuconychia which is due toparakeratotic keratin.

Author comment: ‘Chromonychia induced byantineoplastic agents has been known for several years. . . Leukonychia, either true or apparent, seems to be lessfrequent . . .’Unamuno P, et al. Leukonychia due to cytostatic agents. Clinical and ExperimentalDermatology 17: 273-274, Jul 1992 - Spain 800156765

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Reactions 24 Oct 1992 No. 4240114-9954/10/0424-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved