Insights into Dermatological Applications and Cutaneous Toxicities of Bleomycin

¹Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

²Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

³Al Maha Care Clinics, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

⁴Dermatology Specialist, Ministry of Health, Egypt.

Corresponding Author: Ahmed M. Kabel, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt, 
Tel: +966564833526; E-Mail: [email protected]

Received Date: 07 Dec 2016   

Accepted Date: 23 Feb 2017   

Published Date: 24 Feb 2017

Copyright © 2017 Kabel AM

Citation: Kabel AM and Moharm FM. (2017). Insights into Dermatological Applications and Cutaneous Toxicities of Bleomycin. Mathews J  Dermatol. 2(1): 010

Bleomycin is a chemotherapeutic agent used for treatment of many types of tumors including lymphomas, testicular cancer and breast cancer. Its cytotoxic effect may be attributed to its interaction with O₂ and Fe²⁺ leading to scission of DNA. Its systemic application may be associated with serious pulmonary fibrosis. It may be used by intralesional injection for management of keloids, hypertrophic scars, cutaneous warts, hemangiomas, cutaneous malignancies, cutaneous leishmaniasis and condyloma accuminata. However, its use may lead to significant dermatologic toxicities including scratch dermatitis, Raynaud's phenomenon, hyperpigmentation, fibrosis, gangrene, neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis, alopecia areata, oedema and nail changes.

Keywords

Bleomycin; Dermatology; Applications; Toxicity; Skin