Spectrum of cutaneous infections in patients of leukemia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66344/jpad.14.4.2004.826Keywords:
Leukemia, cutaneous infections.Abstract
Background Cutaneous infections are common in patients of leukemia due to
immunosuppression caused by the disease itself and its therapy.
Objectives This study was aimed to analyze the incidence, types and clinical presentations of
various cutaneous infections in different types of leukemias in this part of the world.
Patients and methods This observational, descriptive and cross sectional study was carried
out in department of dermatology, King Edward Medical College & Mayo Hospital, Lahore.
Two hundred and fifty diagnosed patients of leukemia were enrolled from pediatrics,
oncology, dermatology and medical units of Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Detailed dermatological
examination was performed and the cases having any skin infection were further investigated.
The incidence and morphological patterns of various cutaneous infections in leukemia were
analyzed.
Results Out of the 250 enrolled patients, cutaneous infections were present in 177 (71%)
patients. Out of these 177 patients, 101(57%) were male while 76(43%) were female. The age
ranged from 2-76 years. Infections of skin were more common in acute as compared to
chronic leukemias (p< 0.01). Candidiasis was the commonest infection (72%) seen, while
bacterial, viral and dermatophytic infections were present in 31%, 35% and 12% of the
patients, respectively. Scabies was found in 12%. More than half of the patients (54%) had
two or three types of concomitant infections. Bacterial infections were more frequent in
myelogenous leukemias (p < 0.001), while candidal and dermatophytic infections were more
common in lymphocytic leukemias (p<0.001 and < 0.05, respectively). Dissemination, higher
grade of severity and atypical morphology was frequently seen with these infections.
Conclusions The incidence of cutaneous infections in leukemic patients is very high and
these are more common in acute as compared to chronic leukemia. Candidiasis is the
commonest infection. Bacterial infections are more frequent in myelogenous leukemias,
whereas superficial fungal infections are more in lymphocytic leukemias. Infections with
higher degree of severity, dissemination and atypical morphology are common.
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