AUTHOR=Fekete Gyula Laszlo , Iantovics Laszlo Barna , Fekete Júlia Edit , Fekete Laszlo 

TITLE=Embolia cutis Medicamentosa (Nicolau syndrome): case series

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1216781

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2023.1216781

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Introduction: Embolia cutis medicamentosa or Nicolau syndrome is a rare drug reaction associated with the administration of various injectable medications. The pathogenesis of the disease is unknown, though intra and periarterial injection of the drug is a possible cause. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the clinical characteristics of Nicolau syndrome in patients examined in daily dermatological practice.We performed a retrospective chart review, between January 2011 and December 2020, in patients diagnosed with Nicolau syndrome, from the cases of a private dermatology medical office in Târgu Mureș, Romania.Results: During the 10-year period, 7 patients were diagnosed with Nicolau syndrome. Of these, 4 (57%) patients were males and 3 (43%) were females, The male to female ratio was 1.33. The median age was 64 (interquartile range, IQR, 62-71), with the youngest patient being diagnosed at age 61 and the oldest at age 74. Regarding the drugs classes that caused Nicolau syndrome, these were intravenous antibiotics in 57 %, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 43% of cases.Conclusions: All patients healed in a period of 6 to 8 weeks. No complications occurred. In conclusion, Nicolau syndrome is a rare side effect of injectable drug administration.