CUTANEOUS REACTIONS AFTER TREATMENT WITH 2-CHLORODEOXYADENOSINE

2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) is a new purine analogue which has show n great efficacy in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia. Only one cas e of cutaneous reaction after this treatment has previously been repor ted. The data from 33 patients treated with 2-CdA were retrospectively reviewed. Seven of these (21%) developed a disseminated eruption duri ng the month following 2-CdA. One had toxic epidermal necrolysis. A re action to the associated antibiotic therapy seemed ''likely'' or ''ver y likely'' in 5 out of the 7 cases. The incidence of adverse drug reac tions may be increased after 2-CdA, and the role of CD4+ lymphocytopen ia in these reactions is discussed.