Tuberc Respir Dis.  2012 Feb;72(2):207-211.

A Case of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in a Lung Cancer Patient Treated with Gemcitabine

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. junpearl19@naver.com

Abstract

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare disorder characterized by the triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. HUS arises from a wide spectrum of conditions, and chemotherapeutic agents have been reported to be associated with HUS, including Mitomycin, Cisplatin, Bleomycin, and Gemcitabine. A 76-year-old man treated with Gemcitabine due to non-small cell lung cancer developed clinical and laboratory findings compatible with HUS. Gemcitabine was ceased and hemodialysis and plasma exchange were utilized and he recovered. A high level of suspicion for HUS is necessary when cancer patients are treated with Gemcitabine, and prompt recognition and treatment are also essential.

Keyword

Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome; Gemcitabine; Lung Neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Acute Kidney Injury
Aged
Anemia, Hemolytic
Bleomycin
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Cisplatin
Deoxycytidine
Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome
Humans
Lung
Lung Neoplasms
Mitomycin
Plasma Exchange
Renal Dialysis
Thrombocytopenia
Bleomycin
Cisplatin
Deoxycytidine
Mitomycin

Figure

  • Figure 1 Peripheral blood smear showed schistocytes (× 400).

  • Figure 2 Chest X-ray showed a right pleural effusion with atelectasis in RLL and Chemopoprt insert state via left internal jugular vein. RLL: right lower lobe.


Reference

1. Moake JL. Thrombotic microangiopathies. N Engl J Med. 2002. 347:589–600.
2. Blackall DP, Marques MB. Hemolytic uremic syndrome revisited: Shiga toxin, factor H, and fibrin generation. Am J Clin Pathol. 2004. 121:Suppl. S81–S88.
3. Loirat C, Frémeaux-Bacchi V. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2011. 6:60.
4. Gore EM, Jones BS, Marques MB. Is therapeutic plasma exchange indicated for patients with gemcitabine-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome? J Clin Apher. 2009. 24:209–214.
5. Fung MC, Storniolo AM, Nguyen B, Arning M, Brookfield W, Vigil J. A review of hemolytic uremic syndrome in patients treated with gemcitabine therapy. Cancer. 1999. 85:2023–2032.
6. Saif MW, Xyla V, Makrilia N, Bliziotis I, Syrigos K. Thrombotic microangiopathy associated with gemcitabine: rare but real. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2009. 8:257–260.
7. Zupancic M, Shah PC, Shah-Khan F. Gemcitabine-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Lancet Oncol. 2007. 8:634–641.
8. Ruggenenti P, Noris M, Remuzzi G. Thrombotic microangiopathy, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Kidney Int. 2001. 60:831–846.
9. Flombaum CD, Mouradian JA, Casper ES, Erlandson RA, Benedetti F. Thrombotic microangiopathy as a complication of long-term therapy with gemcitabine. Am J Kidney Dis. 1999. 33:555–562.
10. Saif MW, McGee PJ. Hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with gemcitabine: a case report and review of literature. JOP. 2005. 6:369–374.
11. Duperray A, Tranqui L, Alix JL, Cordonnier D. Effect of mitomycin C on prostacyclin synthesis by human endothelial cells. Biochem Pharmacol. 1988. 37:4753–4757.
12. Licciardello JT, Moake JL, Rudy CK, Karp DD, Hong WK. Elevated plasma von Willebrand factor levels and arterial occlusive complications associated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Oncology. 1985. 42:296–300.
13. Porta C, Danova M, Riccardi A, Bobbio-Pallavicini E, Ascari E. Cancer chemotherapy-related thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: biological evidence of increased nitric oxide production. Mayo Clin Proc. 1999. 74:570–574.
14. Caprioli J, Noris M, Brioschi S, Pianetti G, Castelletti F, Bettinaglio P, et al. Genetics of HUS: the impact of MCP, CFH, and IF mutations on clinical presentation, response to treatment, and outcome. Blood. 2006. 108:1267–1279.
15. Walker RW, Rosenblum MK, Kempin SJ, Christian MC. Carboplatin-associated thrombotic microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Cancer. 1989. 64:1017–1020.
16. Werner TL, Agarwal N, Carney HM, Rodgers GM. Management of cancer-associated thrombotic microangiopathy: what is the right approach? Am J Hematol. 2007. 82:295–298.
17. Oberic L, Buffet M, Schwarzinger M, Veyradier A, Clabault K, Malot S, et al. Cancer awareness in atypical thrombotic microangiopathies. Oncologist. 2009. 14:769–779.
18. Tsai HM. Advances in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2003. 14:1072–1081.
19. Fakhouri F, Frémeaux-Bacchi V. Does hemolytic uremic syndrome differ from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura? Nat Clin Pract Nephrol. 2007. 3:679–687.
20. Bharthuar A, Egloff L, Becker J, George M, Lohr JW, Deeb G, et al. Rituximab-based therapy for gemcitabine-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome in a patient with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a case report. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2009. 64:177–181.
Full Text Links
  • TRD
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr