title: Fatal pulmonary reaction from low doses of bleomycin. An idiosyncratic tissue response.
abstract: There were two cases of fatal interstitial pneumonia secondary to bleomycin sulfate administration. Although bleomycin pulmonary toxicity is generally thought to be dose-related and occurs infrequently with a total cummulative dose less than 300 to 400 units, the two reactions reported here occurred with doses of 105 and 165 units. Fatal bleomycin-induced pneumonia has been previously reported at these low dosages, and physicians should be aware that this toxic reaction may occur as an idiosyncratic response. Previous thoracic irradiation may be a predisposing factor. Patients receiving bleomycin should be meticulously monitored by interrogation for cough, dyspnea, and chest pain; by auscultation for rales; by serial chest roentgenograms; and by determinations of vital capacity and single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin