[waltej]

Rash, itching & welts after stem cell transplant

by waltej on Thu May 29, 2014 7:48 am

I have had rash/welts/itching for 5 weeks, beginning approx a month after peripheral blood autologous SCT (April 6). It began on my scalp and face (including eyelids), eventually reached my legs, then went back up to the scalp, face and upper chest, where it is now.

Mostly unsuccessful treatments (3-5 days each) were:

1. Mometasone furoate + 10mg loratadine
2. Desloratadine 5mg
3. Prednisone ointment 30mg
4. Ophthalmic ointment with steroid (dex) and antiobiotic (neomycin, polymyxin)
   + polyethelne glycol drops + vitA POS ointment
5. Acupuncture (one session)

History
2008 Melanoma 1mm in situ removed, no treatment
2013 VCD [Velcade, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone] for multiple myeloma with rash/itch after 5 cycles on upper legs/lower stomach treated w/hydrocortisone ointment successfully
Apr 18 HH6 [human herpesvirus 6] (300,000 copies) with fever for 5 days, down to 1,800 copies 10 days later

Would appreciate any advice.

[tpt]

Re: Rash, itching & welts after stem cell transplant

by tpt on Fri May 30, 2014 10:10 pm

Sorry to hear that.

Dad's been having the same problem. Nothing can get rid of the itch. It has been going for almost nine months.

Some people develop this itch after harvest/SCT. My doctor told us that when the body hair starts to regrow, the affected area will itch. It is true, though, because from my observations, the red areas are always located on Dad's hairless skin.

But, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) works better than loratadine (Claritin). It makes dad drowsy, though. And Lubiderm also helps.