Introduction:

Hydroxyurea is the first-line drug for patients with essential thrombocythemia in high-risk groups. Despite its relatively good tolerance, it can induce difficult-to-treat skin lesions.

Objective:

To present the case of a 64-year-old patient with an adverse reaction to long-term hydroxyurea therapy, described in the literature as “hydroxyurea-induced dermatomyositis-like eruption”.

Case report:

The patient with a 14-year history of essential thrombocythemia, treated with hydroxyurea, presented with hyperkeratotic lesions and bluish papules on the dorsa of the hands. Both antinuclear antibodies and dermatomyositis-associated antibodies were negative. Electromyographic examination prior to hospitalization was not indicative of primary damage to muscle cells. The result of the biopsy was consistent

Conclusions:

If a patient undergoing treatment with hydroxyurea develops a dermatomyositis-like eruption and topical treatment proves ineffective, change of the therapy should be considered.