title: Intestinal perforation secondary to paclitaxel.
abstract: Three patients with colonic perforation following paclitaxel therapy are reported. This appears to be a direct drug effect causing mitotic arrest on the gastrointestinal epithelium. Eleven such patients with this complication have now been identified. While infrequent, this is a serious complication with a 57% mortality rate. The exact incidence of this complication is unknown and may have been previously underreported being attributed to progressive disease. A high index of suspicion of this complication should be considered for anyone presenting with abdominal pain following paclitaxel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University MacDonald Womens Hospital, Case Western Reserve, University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Piver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D017239:Paclitaxel