High-Dose Oral Vitamin D for Toxic Effects of the Skin Associated With Chemotherapy and Radiation

Is high-dose oral vitamin D associated with rapid clinical improvement and safety in patients with chemotherapy- or radiation-related toxic effects of the skin?In this case series of 33 patients with toxic erythema of chemotherapy or acute radiation dermatitis, 26 patients reported symptomatic relief within 10 days of high-dose oral vitamin D administration (100 000 international units). Objective erythema scores considerably improved, with a median time to improvement of 5 days, and no cases of hypercalcemia or treatment-related adverse events.Patients who received high-dose oral vitamin D therapy were subsequently noted to have rapid improvement in radiation- and chemotherapy-related toxic effects of the skin without any substantial safety concerns.

Corresponding Author: Christopher Iriarte, MD, Department of Dermatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Gryzmish 522, Boston, MA 02115 (ciriarte@bidmc.harvard.edu).

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