Clinic features and me chanism of scald-like skin damage induced by high-dose methotrexate / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the clinic features and the mechanism of skin damage induced by high-dose methotrexate(HD-MTX).Method Children treated with HD-MTX were enrolled in a retrospective study in which the incidence and presentations of skin damage were concluded.Mechanism of the damage was studied base on skin pathology of an animal model.Result Skin damage presented in 3～9(median 5) days after HD-MTX and usually followed by bullation and exfoliation.Twelve cases,more severe than the others,accompanied with fever and symptoms of other organs especially the respiratory tract and the intestine.Skin damage was reduced when large dose rehydration used before,during and after HD-MTX.Conclusion HD-MTX may cause scald-like skin damage directly by its prolonged toxic effect on epidermal cells.Besides extended tetrahydrofolic acid rescue and supportive treatments,anti infection is the most important in dealing this condition.