John Libbey Eurotext




The hand-foot syndrome – a frequent secondary manifestation in antineoplastic chemotherapy
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 16, Number 5, 494-9, September-October 2006, Review article
Free Article
Author(s) : M Janusch, M Fischer, WCH Marsch, H-J Holzhausen, T Kegel, P Helmbold
Summary : The hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia) designates acute, painful erythemas of the palms and soles of the feet caused by antineoplastic chemotherapies. The most frequent trigger substances are 5-fluoruracil and its derivates. At maximum severity, the HFS is bullous to erosive or ulcerous in character. The pathogenesis has not yet been clarified. Histologically, the HFS is characterized by a toxic keratinocyte reaction. Furthermore, there is sub-basal edema with a tendency to bullae, dilated blood and lymph capillaries and usually only mild perivascular lymphocytic infiltration. Early recognition and delineation from other differential diagnoses is prerequisite to targeted management of the disease. Depending on the severity, HFS requires dose reduction, interruption or switch in the antineoplastic chemotherapy.
Keywords : differential diagnosis, hand-foot syndrome, immunohistology, palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia, transmission electron microscopy

The hand-foot syndrome – a frequent secondary manifestation in antineoplastic chemotherapy