title: Carotid artery inflammation associated with gemcitabine-based therapy: a special report.
abstract: Vasculitis is an inflammation that can present as acute or chronic in nature, which causes changes in the walls of blood vessels, including thickening, weakening, narrowing and scarring. Gemcitabine, an antimetabolite chemotherapeutic agent, is generally well tolerated with a favorable side effect profile. However, there is increasing evidence that it is associated with vasculitis, which can affect small and large vessels. In this case report, we report a patient who has experienced fever with severe tenderness over right carotid artery, which occurred on the fifth day after the administration of gemcitabine. The exact mechanism of gemcitabine-induced vasculitis is unknown but cessation of gemcitabine and initiation of anti-inflammatory treatment appears to aid in the resolution of the clinical syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore.|Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610.
authors.forename: Mingjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Mark Ryan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: De Guzman Langit
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Teh Aun
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610.
authors.forename: Soon Thye
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D001167:Arteritis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine
keywords: carotid artery; gemcitabine; inflammation