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Cyclophosphamide induced nail pigmentation
Author(s) -
SHAH PRABODH C.,
RAO K.R.P.,
PATEL ASHOK R.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1978.tb03587.x
Subject(s) - nail (fastener) , cyclophosphamide , dermatology , medicine , chemotherapy , surgery , materials science , metallurgy
SUMMARY Cyclophosphamide therapy may occasionally cause black pigmentation of the nails. We report five cases with this side effect and review the data on eleven cases in the literature. These changes start in the proximal nail beds and progress distally; on withdrawal of cyclophosphamide, clearing of the nail pigmentation proceeds in a similar fashion. The development of the nail pigmentation does not bear any relation to the primary condition for which cyclophosphamide was prescribed. The dose of the drug before the onset of pigmentation ranged from 1.2 to 12.3 g; the duration of treatment ranged from 10 days to 26 weeks. The mechanism of the nail pigmentation is unknown.