Gemcitabine-related pulmonary toxicity.
BACKGROUND
Gemcitabine is an increasingly used and generally well tolerated anticancer drug. Rarely, it leads to potentially fatal pulmonary toxicity.
We describe the clinical features of 5 patients with gemcitabine-related pulmonary toxicity. Due to early diagnosis, prompt discontinuation of the drug, and treatment with steroids, toxicity was reversible in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Early recognition of gemcitabine-related pulmonary toxicity is mandatory.
Joerger
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology, University Hospital, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Gunz
A
A
Speich
R
R
Pestalozzi
Bernhard C
BC
D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D011241:Prednisone; D000093542:Gemcitabine