Fatal bleomycin toxicity from a low cumulative dose in a patient with renal insufficiency.
A 54-year-old man with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic renal insufficiency was treated with combination chemotherapy which included bleomycin. Fatal pulmonary toxicity developed after administration of a total bleomycin dose of only 60 U. Transbronchial biopsy and autopsy demonstrated pathologic findings consistent with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. High-dose corticosteroid therapy did not appear to alter the clinical course. Extreme caution should be exercised when administering bleomycin to patients with renal insufficiency.
D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001761:Bleomycin