title: Pemetrexed as a possible cause of severe rhabdomyolysis in the treatment of lung cancer.
abstract: According to many published clinical trials, both haematological and non-haematological toxicities resulting from pemetrexed were relatively mild and therefore this drug is considered to be well tolerated. We came across a 60 y/o woman patient with stage IV adenocarcinoma, suffered from unexpected life threatening complication, rhabdomyolysis. Severe lower leg weakness and respiratory failure occurred on the day 3 after pemetrexed administration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that addresses severe and life-threatening rhabdomyolysis which occur during chemotherapy for the treatment of lung cancer. We believed pemetrexed is a safe drug but we should pay attention to possible complications related to pemetrexed-based treatment and to also treat the life-threatening disorder of rhabdomyolysis immediately to prevent further damage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Shyan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jong-Rung
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Mei-Chiou
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Shah-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chih-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine