Nail changes secondary to docetaxel (Taxotere)

Docetaxel is a new taxoid antineoplastic drug widely used for advanced brea st cancer. Skin and nail toxicity are one of the more frequent nonhematolog ic adverse reactions. Besides dark pigmentations and Beau's lines, subungua l hemorrhage, orange discoloration, acute painful paronychia, onycholysis, subungual hyperkeratosis and transverse loss of the nail plate are describe d. The type of nail alteration is related with the number of cycles adminis tered and there are no efficacious preventive measures to avoid its develop ment. Clinicians should recognize the clinical picture of these adverse nai l reactions because docetaxel is used for several neoplastic disorders.