[Severe interstitial pneumonitis related to Gemcitabine].

Abstract

Gemcitabine is used to treat solid tumours such as non small-cell lung cancer. In general, it is a well tolerated cytotoxic agent and myelosuppression is the major dose limiting side-effect. Pulmonary toxicity has been described and dyspnoea occurs in approximately 8% of patients in whom, for the majority, it is mild and reversible. But several cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related to Gemcitabine treatment have been reported since 1997 and a few were fatal. We present a case of Gemcitabine toxicity in a patient treated for a lung cancer. He presented with a respiratory distress syndrome due to acute interstitial pneumonitis from which he promptly recovered with corticosteroid therapy.

• Authors: J Sabria-Trias, F Bonnaud, M Sioniac
• Journal: Revue des maladies respiratoires (Rev Mal Respir) Vol. 19 Issue 5 Pt 1 Pg. 645-7 (Oct 2002) ISSN: 0761-8425 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Pneumopathie interstitielle à la Gemcitabine.
• PMID: 12473953 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones
• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Deoxycytidine
• Gemcitabine

Topics

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones (therapeutic use)
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy)
• Deoxycytidine (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Lung Diseases, Interstitial (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Male
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome (etiology)
• Gemcitabine