A Case of Leg Ulcers due to Hydroxycarbamide

Hydroxycarbamide, also known as hydroxyurea, is a nucleic-acid metabolic antagonist used to treat myeloproliferative disorders, such as chronic myelocytic leukemia, polycythemia vera, and essential thrombocythemia. We present an 85-year-old woman in whom skin ulcers developed on the posterior aspect of the calcaneal region bilaterally after she was treated with hydroxycarbamide for essential thrombocythemia. The ulcers were resistant to conventional therapy but healed 1 month after the discontinuation of hydroxyurea and the application of a steroid ointment. Clinicians should therefore be aware of this potential adverse effect of hydroxycarbamide.