Successful treatment of gemcitabine toxicity with a brief course of oral corticosteroid therapy

Abstract

Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog that is useful in the treatment of solid tumors. Its use has been postulated to produce lung injury by causing a capillary leak syndrome. We describe a gemcitabine-treated female patient who developed severe dyspnea, diffuse pulmonary infiltrates, and hypoxia, with evidence of interstitial disease on pulmonary function tests. Following the administration of oral corticosteroids, she had complete resolution of all signs and symptoms of gemcitabine toxicity. Physicians should be aware of this treatable complication of gemcitabine therapy.