Markers of systemic involvement and death in hospitalized cancer patients with severe cutaneous adverse reactions.

Background: Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) are frequent in inpatient oncology. Early intervention might reduce morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization costs; however, current clinical and histologic features are unreliable SCAR predictors. There is a need to identify rational markers of SCARs that could lead to effective therapeutic interventions.
Objective: To characterize the clinical and serologic features of hospitalized patients with cancer who developed SCARs.
Methods: Retrospective review of 49 hospitalized cancer patients with a morbilliform rash, recorded testing for serum cytokines (interleukin [IL] 6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF] α) or elafin, and a prior dermatology consultation. Patients were categorized as having a simple morbilliform rash without systemic involvement or complex morbilliform rash with systemic involvement.
Results: Fifteen out of 49 patients (30.6%) were deceased at 6 months from time of dermatologic consultation. Elafin, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly higher in patients who died compared with patients who were still alive at 6 months. IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly higher in patients with a drug-related complex rash.
Limitations: Retrospective design, limited sample size, and high-risk patient population.
Conclusion: In cancer patients with SCARs, elafin, IL-6, and TNF-α levels might predict a poor outcome. Agents directed against these targets might represent rational treatments for the prevention of fatal SCARs.
(Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)