Cutaneous necrosis after alpha interferon injection uncovering activated Cprotein resistance: a case report.

Introduction. - Cutaneous necrosis occurring in the course of treatment by alpha interferon is an uncommon side-effect Ifs physiopathologic mechanism remains obscure. A local thrombotic action of interferon has been suggested to explain ifs occurrence. Exegesis. - A 64-year-old male patient with human immunodeficiency virus-re lated cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma presented cutaneous necrosis after a g-mon th treatment by interferon alpha, while his resistance to activated protein C had already been demonstrated. To our knowledge, this is the first case ever described regarding the association of interferon-induced cutaneous ne crosis with activated protein C resistance. Conclusion. - This suggests that in case of interferon treatment-induced cu taneous necrosis coagulation disorders should be investigated and questions the existence of a particular "pro-coagulant profil" facilitating this sid e effect. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.