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Review
. 2006 May 10:6:128.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-6-128.

Major combined electrolyte deficiency during therapy with low-dose cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and interferon alpha: report on several cases and review of the literature [ISRCTN62866759]

Katrin Hoffmann  1 , Angela Marten, Katja Lindel, Stefan Fritz, Dirk Jager, Markus W Buchler, Jan Schmidt
Affiliations
Review

Major combined electrolyte deficiency during therapy with low-dose cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and interferon alpha: report on several cases and review of the literature [ISRCTN62866759]

Katrin Hoffmann et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Low-dose Cisplatin and Interferon alpha treatment of solid tumors rarely has been associated with severe hypocalcaemia. To the authors knowledge the phenomenon has not been reported previously in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

Case presentation: A patient with resected adenocarcinoma of the pancreas was treated with adjuvant radio-chemo-immunotherapy using a combination of low-dose Cisplatin, 5-Fluorouracil and Interferon alpha together with external beam radiation. Severe hypocalcaemia without signs of acute renal failure or electrolyte disturbance occurred within 2 days at the 4th week of treatment and required intensive care treatment.

Conclusion: Combination of biological and cytotoxic therapies may increase the incidence of severe hypocalcaemia in pancreatic cancer. Oncologists should remain attentive of this problem as more highly active regimes become available.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Boxplott of Magnesium serum levels. Day 1 after start of therapy to day 42.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Boxplott of Calcium serum levels. Day 1 after start of therapy to day 42.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Boxplott of Creatinine serum levels. Day 1 after start of therapy to day 42.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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