Hand-foot syndrome (chemotherapy)

Hand-foot syndrome, also known as palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia or Burgdorf reaction, is a benign, aseptic, self-limiting complication of many chemotherapeutic agents characterized by a widespread erythema, edema and ulceration of the hands and feet. 

Causative drugs

Many chemotherapeutic agents have been described as causing hand-foot syndrome including ¹: 

• 5-fluorouracil

• capecitabine

• cyclophosphamide

• cytarabine

• docetaxel

• etoposide

• hydroxyurea

• liposomal doxorubicin

• mercaptopurine

• methotrexate

• paclitaxel

• sorafenib

• sunitinib

• tegafur

• vinorelbine

Disambiguation

Hand-foot syndrome in the setting of chemotherapy should not be confused with:

• hand-foot syndrome (sickle cell disease)

• hand-foot-and-mouth disease

• hand-foot-genital syndrome