Pulmonary Toxicity of Antineoplastic Drugs
- Gerald Batist, MD;
- Joseph L. Andrews Jr, MD
- From the Section of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, New England Deaconess Hospital, Harvard Medical School (Drs Batist and Andrews), and the Lahey Clinic Foundation (Dr Andrews), Boston. Dr Batist is now with the National Cancer Institute-Navy Medical Oncology Branch, National Navy Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.
Abstract
Pulmonary toxicity caused by antineoplastic drugs is becoming a more frequently recognized entity, and the number of drugs known or suspected of causing this disease is steadily increasing. In general, the initial clinical appearance includes both constitutional signs of malaise and fever, as well as pulmonary complaints. Some clinical signs may suggest a particular drug as the cause. The pathological condition also is generally nonspecific, but some clues may be present histologically that help define the causal agent. This is a review of the antineoplastic drugs that are associated with pulmonary toxicity. Clinical, laboratory, and pathological data are presented as useful information for practicing physicians. Although therapeutic maneuvers are limited, these are discussed with regard to each drug.
(JAMA 1981;246:1449-1453)
Footnotes
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Reprint requests to Department of Medicine, New England Deaconess Hospital, 185 Pilgrim Rd, Boston, MA 02215.
