Antineoplastics
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Reactions 583 - 13 Jan 1996 S Antineoplastics Clostridium difficile colitis: 6 case reports Six patients developed Clostridium difficile colitis after receiving antineoplastic therapy [dosages not stated] for various malignancies; 3 had underlying GI malignancies. The patients, 5 women and 1 man (aged 46–77 years), all presented with moderate to severe diarrhoea and were found to have C. difficile toxin present in faecal specimens. In the 2 patients who had received fluorouracil and interferon-α-2a, symptoms developed during the third week and after approximately 3 months’ treatment, respectively. Symptoms developed in the other 4 patients 5–7 days after they began treatment; these patients had been treated with a combination of agents including fluorouracil (3 patients), interferon-α-2a (1), isotretinoin (1), carboplatin (1), etoposide (1), interferon-α-2b (2) and cisplatin (1). All patients required hospitalisation and electrolyte replacement therapy. Colitis resolved in all patients after 4–10 days, either with or without antibacterial therapy. One patient experienced a relapse of colitis during continued antineoplastic therapy, but this episode resolved within 4 days after antibacterial therapy. Author comment: Early recognition of C. difficile colitis, discontinuation of antineoplastic therapy and prompt treatment is imperative to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this complication. Sriuranpong V, et al. Antineoplastic-associated colitis in Chulalongkorn University Hospital. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 78: 424-429, Aug 1995 - Thailand 800412084 1 Reactions 13 Jan 1996 No. 583 0114-9954/10/0583-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Antineoplastics
Reactions 583 - 13 Jan 1996
SAntineoplastics
Clostridium difficile colitis: 6 case reportsSix patients developed Clostridium difficile colitis after
receiving antineoplastic therapy [dosages not stated] forvarious malignancies; 3 had underlying GI malignancies.
The patients, 5 women and 1 man (aged 46–77 years), allpresented with moderate to severe diarrhoea and were foundto have C. difficile toxin present in faecal specimens.
In the 2 patients who had received fluorouracil andinterferon-α-2a, symptoms developed during the third weekand after approximately 3 months’ treatment, respectively.Symptoms developed in the other 4 patients 5–7 days afterthey began treatment; these patients had been treated with acombination of agents including fluorouracil (3 patients),interferon-α-2a (1), isotretinoin (1), carboplatin (1), etoposide(1), interferon-α-2b (2) and cisplatin (1).
All patients required hospitalisation and electrolytereplacement therapy. Colitis resolved in all patients after 4–10days, either with or without antibacterial therapy. One patientexperienced a relapse of colitis during continuedantineoplastic therapy, but this episode resolved within 4 daysafter antibacterial therapy.
Author comment: Early recognition of C. difficile colitis,discontinuation of antineoplastic therapy and prompttreatment is imperative to reduce the morbidity and mortalityof this complication.Sriuranpong V, et al. Antineoplastic-associated colitis in Chulalongkorn UniversityHospital. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 78: 424-429, Aug 1995 -Thailand 800412084
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Reactions 13 Jan 1996 No. 5830114-9954/10/0583-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
