Life-threatening bleomycin pulmonary toxicity with ultimate reversibility

Chest. 1990 Aug;98(2):497-9. doi: 10.1378/chest.98.2.497.

Abstract

A 60-year-old man with advanced seminoma was treated with four cycles of a cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin. He then developed severe pulmonary toxicity with diffuse infiltrates as evidenced on a chest x-ray film. The room air PaO2 value was 32 mm Hg. The patient was treated with steroids and oxygen supplementation, including a high FIo2 for several days, and survived and eventually experienced marked improvement in his pulmonary status. Aggressive management of severe bleomycin-induced pneumonitis appears justified.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Bleomycin / adverse effects*
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Dysgerminoma / drug therapy
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy
  • Pneumonia / chemically induced*
  • Pneumonia / therapy
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Bleomycin
  • Etoposide
  • Cisplatin
  • Prednisone
  • Methylprednisolone