title: Hemolytic uremic syndrome due to gemcitabine in a young woman with cholangiocarcinoma.
abstract: Gemcitabine is a medication used to treat various types of malignant neoplasms. Its association with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) has been described in few cases, although these cases have resulted in mortality rates of at least 50%. We report on the case of a 25-year-old patient with cholangiocarcinoma in remission who developed microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with acute anuric renal failure after receiving 5 cycles of gemcitabine chemotherapy; this condition was consistent with HUS caused by the side effects of this drug. The administration of gemcitabine was stopped, and hemodialysis, blood transfusions, plasma exchanges, steroids, doxycycline, and rituximab were used to treat the patient. A favorable outcome was achieved; in particular, hemolysis was controlled, and renal function was completely recovered.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, Colombia.
authors.forename: John Fredy
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Nieto-Ríos
authors.affiliation: Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuluaga-Quintero
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia.
authors.forename: Lina Maria Serna
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Higuita
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, Colombia.
authors.forename: Cristian Ivan García
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Rincón
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, Colombia.
authors.forename: Kenny Mauricio
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Galvez-Cárdenas
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, Colombia.
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ocampo-Kohn
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, Colombia.
authors.forename: Arbey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aristizabal-Alzate
authors.affiliation: Fundación Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Adriana Alejandra
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Florez-Vargas
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, Colombia.
authors.forename: Gustavo Adolfo
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Zuluaga-Valencia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine