Risk Factors for Cytarabine-Induced Cutaneous Toxicity in Patients with Haematological Malignancies.

Background: The risk factors for cytarabine (Ara-C)-induced cutaneous toxicity are unclear. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients with haematopoietic malignancies treated with Ara-C and examined risk factors for Ara-C-induced cutaneous toxicity. Results: We reviewed 114 patients (76 men, 38 women) and found that 47 patients (41.2%) experienced cutaneous toxicity. In 93 patients (81.6%) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), the toxicity was significantly associated with the cancer type [AML/NHL: odds ratio (OR) = 4.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.99-11.81; p = 0.001], age (<50/≥50 years: OR = 2.54; 95% CI = 1.08-5.95; p = 0.032) and concurrent steroid administration (yes/no: OR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.09-0.56; p = 0.001). AML was the only significant association (OR = 3.83; 95% CI = 1.21-12.06; p = 0.022) in the multivariate logistic analysis. Conclusion: AML, age <50 years and no steroid use are considered to be risk factors for Ara-C-induced cutaneous toxicity. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]