Cutaneous ulceration: an unusual complication of intravenous pentamidine therapy

Pentamidine is one of two agents currently used to treat infections with Pneumocystis carinii. The intramuscular route of administration is associated with cutaneous side effects such as dermal necrosis, sterile abscesses and ulcer formation at the injection site, while urticaria may develop near the site of intravenous drug infusion. This is a report of a renal transplant patient with Pneumocystis pneumonia who developed chemical cellulitis and ulceration following the extravasation of intravenous pentamidine into the soft tissues of the left hand and forearm. The area healed slowly over 7 weeks, but there was a residual loss of cutaneous sensation. In a review of the literature no report of a similar case was found.