Chemotherapy-induced skin toxicity and capillary leak syndrome

The occurrence of chemotherapy-related adverse cutaneous reactions in the setting of capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is quite rare. Our objective was to identify the type of skin reactions associated with CLS.

Leukemia or hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients between January 2010 and December 2017 were identified, and medical records were reviewed for a dermatology consultation occurring concomitantly with CLS.

Five patients were identified, two with a diagnosis of toxic erythema of chemotherapy (TEC) and three others with a skin diagnosis of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Pathology of all patients was available for clinical-pathologic confirmation.

Although TEC is generally self-limited, both TEC and TEN can present with severe adverse skin manifestations during CLS secondary to toxicity from chemotherapy.