[Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease developed in a man given long-term treatment with anticancerous agents]

Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi. 1998 Sep;36(9):823-8.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 67-old man was referred to our hospital because of dyspnea on exertion and severe hypoxia. He had been given, tegafur and OK 432 for seven years following an operation for gastric cancer. Pulmonary hypertension was noted by right heart catheterization. The findings of a transbronchial lung biopsy resulted in a diagnosis of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. Pulmonary hemodynamic studies were performed for five different agents: nifedipine, beroprast sodium (PGI2), nitroglycerin, theophylline, and isosorbide dinitrate. However, none of these agents showed significant effects on pulmonary arterial pressure or pulmonary vascular resistance. Treatment with glucocorticoid relieved the patient's symptoms without any apparent effect on pulmonary hemodynamics. The long-term administration of anticancerous agents (tegafur) were thought to have caused pulmonary veno-occlusive disease to develop in this patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage*
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Picibanil / administration & dosage
  • Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease / chemically induced*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Tegafur / administration & dosage*
  • Tegafur / adverse effects*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Tegafur
  • Picibanil