Acute arterial thrombosis in a patient with breast cancer after chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, leucovorin, cyclophosphamide, and interleukin-3.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is an experimental agent used to ameliorate neutropenia in patients receiving chemotherapy. Arterial thrombotic episodes after use of IL-3 have not been reported previously.


METHODS
The case of a patient with Stage III adenocarcinoma of the breast who developed hypotension and acute cerebellar artery and superior mesenteric artery thrombosis after receiving chemotherapy and treatment with IL-3 is reported.


RESULTS
To the authors' knowledge, this is the first patient with arterial thrombosis reported after treatment with IL-3.


CONCLUSIONS
Interleukin-3 may be associated with increased propensity for thrombosis.
Theodossiou
C
C
Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Kroog
G
G
Ettinghausen
S
S
Tolcher
A
A
Cowan
K
K
O'Shaughnessy
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior; D008875:Middle Aged; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced*
D007377:Interleukin-3; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil