Amelioration of adriamycin skin necrosis: an experimental study.

Skin necrosis following subcutaneous Adriamycin extravasation is a significant clinical problem. In this study Adriamycin dilution and various drugs were tested for their ability to ameliorate this toxic effect. When Adriamycin was diluted to a concentration of less than or equal to 0.25 mg/ml, no skin ulceration was observed. Drugs such as hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, lidocaine, bupivacaine, phentolamine, and hyaluronidase were ineffective in modifying Adriamycin skin necrosis. Care in iv drug administration and dilution of Adriamycin are the best means of preventing the sequelae of subcutaneous Adriamycin extravasation.