Painful Palmar-Plantar Erythema in Myeloproliferative Disease

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> In the January 1985Archives, Levine et al¹reported four cases of acral erythema occurring in patients with myeloproliferative diseases. All patients had received high-dose chemotherapy. My colleagues and I have seen similar cases in our department, but one occurred in a patient who had not received cancer chemotherapy. <h3>Report of a Case.—</h3> A 68-year-old man was admitted to the hematology department of the Finsen Institute, Copenhagen, for evaluation of pancytopenia. Bone marrow and peripheral blood findings were consistent with the diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia. Fourteen days before admission, the patient had been given intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis with ampicillin sodium and gentamicin sulfate. While hospitalized, he developed painful, sharply demarcated erythema and edema on the palms and soles. Four days later, the pain subsided and the lesions resolved, with severe desquamation of the palms. No platelet or red blood cell transfusions were administered. A radioallergosorbent