Skin rash after completion of therapy for leukemia in childhood

The medical records of 58 patients who were surviving after completing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia were reviewed to determine the incidence of skin rash occurring after their treatment had ended. Twenty-eight (48%) developed a rash within 3 months of completing treatment. In the majority this was erythematous, affected the face, and in all patients was transient. There was an increased incidence of rash in those patients who had eczema or asthma or who had a family history of eczema or asthma. It would seem prudent to warn parents of this phenomenon and reassure them of it's benign nature.