Bleomycin – induced flagellate dermatitis: two cases report

Abstract

Bleomycin is an antibiotic with an antineoplastic citotoxic property. It has been used in the treatment of a variety of tumors, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, testes carcinoma and head, malignant pleural effusions and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Bleomycin induced toxicities are more pronounced in lungs and skin due to low concentration of the metabolizing enzyme-bleomycin hydrolase in these organs. Here, we report two cases of Bleomycin-induced flagellate dermatitis in patients suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma after two cycles of ABVD regimen. The management of this dermatitis is symptomatic and usually does not require stopping chemotherapy.