Fatal interstitial pneumonitis following high-dose intermittent chlorambucil therapy for chronic lymphocyte leukemia

Cancer. 1981 Jan 1;47(1):32-6. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19810101)47:1<32::aid-cncr2820470107>3.0.co;2-q.

Abstract

Interstitial lung disease has been reported in association with numerous alkylating agents and other chemotherapeutic drugs. Chlorambucil has only rarely been implicated in this complication. We report a case of a 74-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who received high-dose intermittent chlorambucil and prednisone every two weeks. Following several of these courses of therapy, respiratory distress occurred 9 to 12 days after the chlorambucil was given. During the final episode, open lung biopsy was performed and demonstrated typical changes of drug-induced pneumonitis, with interstitial infiltrates and fibrosis and proliferation of type II alveolar lining cells.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / chemically induced*
  • Biopsy
  • Chlorambucil / adverse effects*
  • Chlorambucil / therapeutic use
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid / drug therapy*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Chlorambucil
  • Prednisone