Acral necrosis after inadequate excessive administration of bleomycin in a testicular cancer patient

Onkologie. 2005 Jan;28(1):41-3. doi: 10.1159/000082054.

Abstract

Background: Testicular cancer has a favorable prognosis in the majority of patients due to the excellent susceptibility to chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin (BEP), which is commonly administered over 3-4 cycles of treatment.

Case report: A 22-year-old male failed to achieve complete response after unconventional treatment with 6 courses of BEP for intermediate-risk metastasized testicular cancer. The patient developed chemotherapy-induced digital necrosis and substantial loss of digital function after this excessive treatment. This condition resolved with infusional alprostadil combined with oral clonidin and pentoxifyllin.

Result: Infusional alprostadil adds substantial clinical benefit to combined vasoactive therapy in chemotherapy-induced vascular toxicity, even after the onset of digital necrosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage*
  • Bleomycin / adverse effects*
  • Clonidine / administration & dosage
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Fingers / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nafronyl / administration & dosage
  • Necrosis / chemically induced
  • Necrosis / drug therapy
  • Raynaud Disease / drug therapy*
  • Raynaud Disease / etiology*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Failure
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasodilator Agents / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Bleomycin
  • Nafronyl
  • Clonidine