title: Dexrazoxane efficacy for anthracycline extravasation: use in UK clinical practice.
abstract: Extravasation is recognised as a major complication of administering intravenous chemotherapy treatment. Of the agents involved in extravasation, anthracyclines are associated with the greatest risk to patients because they are vesicant agents, having the potential to cause blistering and ulceration. If not identified and left untreated, anthracycline extravasation can lead to more serious complications such as tissue necrosis and functional impairment. Dexrazoxane (Savene(®) ) is the only licensed antidote for the treatment of anthracycline extravasation and clinical evidence has shown Savene(®)  to be highly effective for preventing the need for surgery following anthracycline extravasation, allowing full recovery in the majority of patients. To date, there have been eight published studies reporting a total of 102 cases of Savene(®)  use. Here, we review the published data on the efficacy of Savene(®)  and present an analysis of 12 UK case studies. All UK oncology centres where Savene(®)  has been used to manage anthracycline extravasation were contacted by SpePharm UK, who requested case studies for this publication. All of the cases received, including two from our own experience of using Savene(®)  have been included in the analysis.
authors: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK. muthuramalingam@porthosp.nhs.uk
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Muthuramalingam
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Gale
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bradbury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011929:Razoxane / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000931:Antidotes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002614:Chelating Agents; D011929:Razoxane