Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog approved for many tumor types such as bladder, breast, lung or pancreatic. Common toxicities include mild myelosuppression, increase liver enzymes and flu-like symptoms. Skin rash may occur in up to 30% of patients, though grade 3-4 is uncommon [1]. Several types of cutaneous involvement have been described from pruritus alone or generalized morbilliform eruptions [2] to scleroderma-like changes in lower extremities [2,3], generally related with hypersensitivity or inflammatory reactions.

Herein, we show a toxic skin reaction by gemcitabine associated to thrombocytopenic purpura in context of hematological toxicity grade 4 (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4) after first cycle of carboplatin plus gemcitabine. The patient underwent skin biopsy which confirmed diagnostic and oral steroids were given until resolution. This is an unusual case because skin reactions by gemcitabine use to be immune-mediated not for direct cutaneous toxicity and the lesions presented have a particular characteristics and distribution.

A 60-year-old white man, former smoker, was given the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer with squamous differentiation and liver metastasis. He started first line platinum-gemcitabine regimen. Four days after fist cycle, patient consulted at emergency room with fever and skin lesions on the chest, root of upper limbs and lower limbs slightly itchy, bilateral and symmetric without edema (Figs. 1a and 1b). He did not have other source of infection and he had not taken other drugs.

At physical examination there were no other notable findings but mild bronchospasm.

Chest X-ray did not show any infiltrates, urine was normal and blood tests showed grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia (Table 1). Empirical antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin clavulanic and ciprofloxacin was initiated. Blood transfusions and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were also required. Dermatology took skin biopsies and patient was on systemic steroids (intravenous prednisone at doses of 0,5 mg/kg/day) with progressive resolution of the lesions. Almost complete hematological recovery was achieved at 8 days, ending the antibiotic cycle without microbiological isolation.

The skin biopsy result and response to steroids confirmed the plausible pharmacological origin of the rash. In the absence of other new drugs, gemcitabine is the most likely responsible agent. After complete resolution of the laboratory tests, the patient was able to continue the treatment with dose adjustment and without resurgence of the rash, although he needed a slow downward steroid regimen for a month after hospitalization.

Since its approval, gemcitabine has been reported associated with a limited number of cutaneous reactions (24,8%), rash (20,3%) and urticaria or pruritus [4]. These side effects are usually mild and transient, are resolved spontaneously and rarely resulting in adjustment of the dose. The kind of lesions presented in our patient are not similar to those reported previously [5,6], because of their purpuric features and the circumscribed distribution to the thorax and lower limbs, being generalized in most cases. In this patient the coincidence with thrombopenia and febrile neutropenia is likely to distort part of the symptoms.

We think that the importance of this case is to be aware that despite the long time in use of certain antitumor drugs, there may always be toxicity not previously described that depends on the idiosyncrasy of each patient. In addition to the importance of an adequate differential diagnosis with specific tests (such as biopsy) that may help to guide the diagnosis.