Cutaneous eruption in neonate with congenital heart defect

Abstract

A 10-day-old infant born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome developed an urticarial eruption. He was started on prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) at birth and failed attempts to wean treatment secondary to cardiogenic shock. He also required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and a dose increase of PGE1 via a peripheral intravenous line infusion. The eruption developed shortly after the PGE1 dose increase. Physical examination revealed ill-defined, bright pink, blanchable patches on the left forehead and periocular skin and polycyclic, bright red, edematous plaques without overlying scale on the left chest and upper arm (Fig 1).