Prolonged administration of bleomycin without clinical toxicity. Therapy with 2,700 units over four years.
A 26-year-old white man with stage 4-B Hodgkin's disease resistant to conventional chemotherapy obtained complete remission with administration of bleomycin. Maintenance of this remission required continued therapy with bleomycin. The patient received a total of 2,700 units of bleomycin over a 51-month period without signs or symptoms of pulmonary toxicity. Serial studies of pulmonary function have shown a stable forced vital capacity and minimally decreased total lung volume and pulmonary diffusing capacity. This case demonstrates the ability of a patient to tolerate massive cumulative doses ob bleomycin over a protracted period without severe loss of pulmonary function.
D000328:Adult; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D001761:Bleomycin