Title:Docetaxel-induced Flagellate Erythema - Case Report and Brief Review
Volume: 18
Issue: 3
Author(s): Jerbi Asma*, Kastalli Sarrah, Charfi Ons, Dhaghfous Riadh and El Aidli Sihem
Affiliation:
- National Center Chalbi Belkahia of Pharmacovigilance, 9 Avenue du Dr Zouhaier Essafi 1006, Tunis, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine, Research unit: UR17ES12, University of Tunis El Manar, 15 Rue Djebel Lakhdhar, La Rabta,
1007, Tunis, Tunisia
Keywords:
Flagellate, erythema, docetaxel, chemotherapy, pharmacovigilance, bleomycin.
Abstract:
Introduction: Flagellate erythema is a distinctive morphologic reaction pattern recognized
by whiplash-like pruritic erythematous eruption. It is usually encountered in patients receiving
bleomycin. Only one case of docetaxel-induced flagellate erythema is reported in the literature.
Case Report: Herein, we report a rare case of docetaxel-induced flagellate erythema in a 53 years
old woman with no particular medical history treated with docetaxel for metastatic adenocarcinoma
of her right breast. Seven days after the third course, she developed multiple lineal and parallel
pruritic erythematous streaks mainly on her chest and abdomen. The cutaneous erythema disappeared
gradually over 10 days, leaving hyper-pigmented post-inflammatory linear scars lasting two
weeks. The same reaction reappeared after the fourth and the fifth docetaxel course.
Conclusion: Flagellate erythema has been reported as an adverse drug reaction secondary to several
antineoplastic molecules, including docetaxel. Further studies are needed to discover its underlying
mechanisms in order to figure out better treatment plans and prevention.
