levoleucovorin and Sunburn

Ultraviolet recall (UR) or sunburn reactivation is an infrequently reported phenomenon. It is characterized by an erythematous eruption in the distribution of previous ultraviolet-induced sunburn. The timing of the eruption correlates well with the speculation that it is induced by the administration of a chemotherapeutic agent(s). The case of a young man who developed UR after treatment with etoposide (VP16) and cyclophosphamide is reported.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Cyclophosphamide; Dexamethasone; Doxorubicin; Drug Eruptions; Etoposide; Humans; Leucovorin; Male; Methotrexate; Prednisolone; Recurrence; Sunburn; Vincristine

A 21-year-old patient with metastatic osteosarcoma was receiving methotrexate with leucovorin rescue every 2 weeks. After the second (of four) infusions of methotrexate, a prior solar burn on an area of skin was reactivated in spite of leucovorin rescue. An area of skin treated 5 months previously by radiation was spared the effects of the reactivation phenomenon. No other toxicities appeared. The reactivation of the solar burn is an example of "false photosensitization" and this cutaneous toxicity is not ameliorated by leucovorin. Methotrexate therapy should be delayed until the effects of generalized solar burns have resolved (approximately 1 week).

Topics: Adult; Humans; Leucovorin; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Methotrexate; Osteosarcoma; Skin; Sunburn

Topics: Female; Humans; Leucovorin; Methotrexate; Neoplasms; Skin Diseases; Sunburn