[Aseptic skin necrosis after subcutaneous injection of alpha interferon]

Aseptic necrosis of the skin developed in two patients with HIV-associated disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma after subcutaneous injection of recombinant interferon-alpha. Both patients were given it at a daily dosage of 20 x 10(6) IU/m2 body surface area. One of the patients, after full remission had been achieved, received a reduced dosage of 3 x 10(6) IU/m2, twice weekly. The clinical picture and course of the changes were similar to those of embolia cutis medicamentosa (Nicolau's syndrome), which can occur after injection of various drugs, intended to be intramuscular but by mistake given intra-arterially.