Background: Hand-foot syndrome, also called palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia or acral erythema (AS), is a relatively common skin reaction produced by different chemotherapeutic agents. It presents as painful erythema on the palms and soles associated with paresthesias.
Clinical case: We report the case of a 61-year-old woman with basal-like triple-negative breast cancer. She underwent a modified radial mastectomy with a positive node and was administered 8 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with Doxorubicin-Cyclophosphamide 4 cycles and Docetaxel 4 cycles 4 cycles, which developed grade 3 hand-foot syndrome due to Docetaxel and its management with topical therapies, corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, improved and remitted at the end of chemotherapy.
Discussion: A narrative review of the syndrome was carried out; The most common clinical presentation involves the hands and feet, hence the name "hand-foot syndrome," but it is known by a variety of terms. Originally reported in patients receiving high doses of cytarabine for acute leukemia, it has also been fully described, one theory stating that it may be caused by the accumulation of chemotherapy in the eccrine glands, numerous in the palms and soles of the hands. feet, cause metaplasia and focal necrosis of the eccrine duct epithelium; Its incidence is high when chemotherapy is administered, between 2 and 60%. Symptoms lasted an average of 6.4 days, the hands and feet were involved in 68% of initial episodes, such as pain and discomfort in the hands, limits activities of daily living, such as walking, holding objects and performing simple tasks and for its staging to qualify its severity, different instruments are used and is mainly related to the impact on the quality of life of the patients; 27% require analgesic management and local therapies. Race and sex are not associated, only advanced age and high doses of chemotherapy without dexamethasone are associated.
Conclusion: this syndrome is an adverse effect associated with various cytotoxic drugs. Sometimes it is severe enough to limit symptoms, but complete resolution takes 4 weeks or more and treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms.