Gemcitabine-induced systemic capillary leak syndrome.

Abstract

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare disorder with a high mortality rate, characterized by rapidly developing edema, weight gain and hypotension, hemoconcentration and hypoproteinemia. This syndrome is caused by sudden, reversible capillary hyperpermeability with a rapid extravasation of plasma from the intravascular to the interstitial space. Even though SCLS has been suggested to be the pathogenic mechanism for the pulmonary toxicity of gemcitabine (GCB), a new deoxycytidine analogue with structural similarities to cytosine arabinoside, a direct correlation between GCB and SCLS has never been reported. We describe a case of repeated SCLS after GCB administration in a 51-year-old male with locally-advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with a combination of cisplatin and GCB. The detection of GCB-induced SCLS supports the hypothesis that SCLS could be the pathogenic way of GCB pulmonary toxicity. This finding can help to better understand and treat the potentially deadly GCB-related acute respiratory distress syndrome that is being recognized.

• Authors: T De Pas, G Curigliano, L Franceschelli, C Catania, L Spaggiari, F de Braud
• Journal: Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology (Ann Oncol) Vol. 12 Issue 11 Pg. 1651-2 (Nov 2001) ISSN: 0923-7534 [Print] England
• PMID: 11822767 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Deoxycytidine
• Cisplatin
• Gemcitabine

Topics

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Capillary Leak Syndrome (chemically induced)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy)
• Cisplatin (therapeutic use)
• Deoxycytidine (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Gemcitabine