title: Pemetrexed-induced cellulitis: a rare toxicity in non-small cell lung cancer treatment.
abstract: Pemetrexed is indicated for locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer as an initial treatment in combination with cisplatin or after prior chemotherapy as a single agent. It is generally a well-tolerated drug. The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 20%) with single-agent use are fatigue, nausea, and anorexia. Additional common side effects when used in combination with cisplatin include vomiting, neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, stomatitis/pharyngitis, thrombocytopenia, and constipation. Peripheral edema with associated erythema has rarely been described as an adverse effect. Herein, we report a patient with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer who experienced bilateral peripheral edema after pemetrexed administration. Discontinuation of pemetrexed and corticosteroids use completely resolved peripheral edema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumonology, Army General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece. skatsenos@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Stamatis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katsenos
authors.forename: Anthoula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psara
authors.forename: Chara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panagou
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077206:Gabapentin; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000588:Amines; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D006147:Guanine; D000077206:Gabapentin