Itchy red spots

[Greycat4]

I was diagnosed with PV June of 2022. I’m on 500 mg hydroxyurea every other day. I’ve recently started to have recurring outbreaks of itchy red spots, similar to insect bites. I had them for several years pre PV diagnosis, but they stopped a little less than a year before my PV diagnosis. They are not due to skin dermatitis. I was diagnosed with a type of vasculitis due to red spots on my skin that were not itchy, but I’ve never had the itchy red spots biopsied.

I’m wondering if anyone with an MPN gets these itchy spots? If so, have they been diagnosed?

Thanks.

[hunter5582]

I did get something similar as a Besremi adverse effect. It is not a bog deal on this medication and is well controlled with Zyrtec.

Rash is a known hydroxyurea adverse effect. This is something you are supposed to contact the doctor about right away. It may or may not be related to the hydroxyurea, but you will want to have it checked out ASAP.

All the best.

[Greycat4 in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks for replying. Since I had these itchy spots before taking hydroxyurea, I’m not sure it’s the cause. I see my specialist in a few weeks, but as you suggest, perhaps I should call now.

[hunter5582 in reply to Greycat4]

Given the history, I would suspct HU is not the cause, except it did not itch before. I believe that vasculitis is a rare adverse effect associated with HU.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/262....

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

That still does not mean HU is the cause, only that it should be checked out. Please let us know what you learn.

[Greycat4 in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks for passing on the articles. What’s interesting to me is that I had both itchy spots and non itchy spots before being diagnosed with PV and taking hydroxyurea. The non itchy spots led to the vasculitis diagnosis. Hydroxyurea can cause skin problems as the articles say, but I wonder if PV is related to the vasculitis which as I understand has to do with blood vessels bursting under the skin. Also, I think with PV we have more histamines which cause itching. Anyhow, I realize that this can only be understood through medical diagnosis. I appreciate your interest.

[LizzieAFib]

Re vasculitis. What type of vasculitis have you been diagnosed with? There are so many variations (understandably as we have lots of veins and arteries ). I had microscopic polyangiitis, thankfully in remission, but diagnosed with PV this year, and I’ve recently started getting red itchy spots, just as you’ve described. Only meds for PV currently is Rivaroxaban, which is prescribed for my AF.