OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of topical DMSO and intralesional hyaluronidase administration, used alone or in combination, on skin injury due to vinorelbine extravasation in rats.

METHODSSkin injury due to vinorelbine extravasation was induced in the lower extremities of 30 SD rats, which were treated subsequently with topical DMSO, intralesional hyaluronidase, their combination, topical saline, and intralesional saline, with the rats without any treatment as the control. The wound area on 1, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 30 days and the time of healing were observed and compared.

RESULTSThe wound area on 1, 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 days were significantly smaller in topical DMSO group than in topical saline and control groups (P<0.05), and so in intralesional hyaluronidase group than in intralesional saline and control groups (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between single agent (hyaluronidase and DMSO) treatment group and the combined treatment group. The healing time was significantly shorter in topical DMSO and intralesional hyaluronidase groups than in topical and intralesional saline groups and control group ( 24.9-/+3.2 and 21.9-/+3.0 days vs 29.8-/+2.6, 28.6-/+4.1 and 30.6-/+3.0 days, P<0.01), but comparable between the two single agent groups and combined treatment group (23.3-/+3.8 days).

CONCLUSIONIntralesional hyaluronidase and topical DMSO application are effective therapies for skin damage due to vinorelbine extravasation, and their combination does not improve the therapeutic effect.