TY - JOUR
T1 - Melanonychia and mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation from hydroxyurea use for the treatment of essential thrombocytosis
AU - Karanth, Suman S.
AU - Gupta, Anurag
AU - Prabhu, Mukhyaprana
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - Hydroxyurea is an antineoplastic agent commonly used to treat essential thrombocytosis. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who was incidentally detected to have essential thrombocytosis after suffering an episode of cerebrovascular accident with faciobrachial monoparesis. She was subsequently initiated on hydroxyurea. Within seven weeks of therapy, the patient noticed irregular hyperpigmented patches over her feet, hands and perioral region, with bluish-grey longitudinal bands on all 20 nails. Hydroxyurea-induced hyperpigmentation and melanonychia are not commonly reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the third published report of hydroxyurea-induced hyperpigmentation and melanonychia involving all 20 nails. Physicians need to be aware of such mucocutaneous side effects to avoid misdiagnosis and unwarranted fear in patients. The decision to discontinue the intake of the drug depends heavily on the future risk of thrombotic events.
AB - Hydroxyurea is an antineoplastic agent commonly used to treat essential thrombocytosis. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who was incidentally detected to have essential thrombocytosis after suffering an episode of cerebrovascular accident with faciobrachial monoparesis. She was subsequently initiated on hydroxyurea. Within seven weeks of therapy, the patient noticed irregular hyperpigmented patches over her feet, hands and perioral region, with bluish-grey longitudinal bands on all 20 nails. Hydroxyurea-induced hyperpigmentation and melanonychia are not commonly reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the third published report of hydroxyurea-induced hyperpigmentation and melanonychia involving all 20 nails. Physicians need to be aware of such mucocutaneous side effects to avoid misdiagnosis and unwarranted fear in patients. The decision to discontinue the intake of the drug depends heavily on the future risk of thrombotic events.
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U2 - 10.11622/smedj.2013187
DO - 10.11622/smedj.2013187
M3 - Article
C2 - 24452985
AN - SCOPUS:84892741687
SN - 0037-5675
VL - 55
JO - Singapore Medical Journal
JF - Singapore Medical Journal
IS - 1
ER -