Gemcitabine-Associated Large Vessel Vasculitis Presenting as Fever of Unknown Origin

A Spotlight on Drug-Induced Vasculitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Drug-induced vasculitis (DIV) is a rare form of vasculitis related to the use of various drugs. DIV primarily affects small to medium size vessels, but it can potentially involve vessels of any size. Differentiating between primary systemic vasculitis and DIV can be challenging; however, it is crucial, so that the offending agent can be discontinued promptly.

RECENT FINDINGS

The clinical phenotype of DIV is protean and depends on the size of the affected vessels. It ranges from arthralgias, to an isolated cutaneous rash, to severe single or multi-organ involvement. While withdrawal of the offending drug is the most important step in management, a significant number of patients require immunosuppressive therapy for varying periods of time. DIV can affect any vascular bed size, leading to protean vasculitic syndromes. Increased awareness among general practitioners, specialty, and subspecialty physicians is crucial for early recognition, and withdrawal of drug for better outcomes.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor-associated aortitis in cancer: A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Aortitis following granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration has been reported in 0.3-0.47% of cases. To evaluate the characteristics of G-CSF-associated aortitis, we systematically reviewed the literature.

METHODS

We searched PubMed and found 49 cases of G-CSF-associated aortitis and cancer comorbidities and analyzed their characteristics and treatments.

RESULTS

Since 2004, cases of G-CSF-associated aortitis have been increasing, particularly in Asia (75.5%). The mean age was 60.1 years; 79.6% of patients were 50 years and older; and most patients were females (91.8%). All patients underwent chemotherapy (taxane, 51.0%). The most frequent symptom was fever, which occurred within 10 days (61.2%) of G-CSF administration, similar to that in febrile neutropenia. The period to remission was within 14 days in 44.9% of cases. Steroids were administered to 59.2% of patients; however, treatment efficacy was not significant. No patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of inflammatory cytokines might induce aortitis; however, further studies are warranted.

The incidence and clinical features of PEGylated filgrastim-induced acute aortitis in patients with breast cancer

Although PEGylated filgrastim-induced aortitis is very rare and unknown clinically, some cases were reported and increasing, especially in breast cancer patients. The present study investigated the prevalence, clinical features and treatment of aortitis induced by PEGylated filgrastim in patients with breast cancer. A total of 2068 consecutive patients who underwent neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy with PEGylated filgrastim for breast cancer were enrolled. From the medical record, clinical, laboratory, medication, and imaging evaluation findings were collected. PEGylated filgrastim-induced aortitis was established in 0.3% of the study population. Common clinical presentations included extremely high fever and chest/back pain with high levels of inflammatory markers without any signs of infection. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans revealed typical enhancing wall thickening and periaortic soft tissue infiltration at various levels of aorta. All patients improved rapidly after treatment with modest doses of prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day) without any complications. Clinicians should be aware of aortitis as a possible complication of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor therapy, especially PEGylated filgrastim, given the frequent misdiagnoses in neutropenic patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Aortitis which developed after the administration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor

Drug-induced aortitis is rare; thus, the diagnosis of drug-induced aortitis could be delayed unless clinicians are aware of the disease entity. Herein, we describe the case of a 66-year-old woman who developed aortitis after administration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) during chemotherapy for her breast cancer. Thickening of the aortic wall was clearly detected by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging. After excluding the other possible aetiologies, an association between G-CSF and the development of aortitis was highly suspected. Corticosteroid treatment rapidly regressed the aortitis, as confirmed by follow-up CT examination. G-CSF analog is generally well tolerated; however, there are limited case reports of G-CSF-associated aortitis, suggesting the causative effect of G-CSF in the development of aortitis. Currently, G-CSF-associated aortitis has received little attention among rheumatologists. As the delayed diagnosis results in irreversible changes in the aorta, not only oncologists but also rheumatologists should be aware of this unrecognized disease entity, G-CSF-associated aortitis.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor- and chemotherapy-induced large-vessel vasculitis: six patient cases and a systematic literature review

OBJECTIVE

Patients receiving chemotherapy are prone to neutropoenic infections, presenting with non-specific symptoms such as a high fever and elevated inflammatory parameters. Large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) may have a similar clinical presentation and should be included in differential diagnostics. A few published case reports and adverse event reports suggest a causal association between LVV and the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and chemotherapy. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between LVV, G-CSF and chemotherapy.

METHODS

Between 2016 and 2018, we identified six patients in Finland with probable drug-induced LVV associated with G-CSF and chemotherapy. All six patients had breast cancer. A systematic literature review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines using comprehensive search terms for cancer, chemotherapy, G-CSF and LVV.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 18 similar published case reports, of which most were published after 2014. In all patients combined (n = 24), the time delay from the last drug administration to the LVV symptoms was on average 5 days with G-CSF (range = 1-8 days) and 9 days with chemotherapy (range = 1-21 days). Common symptoms were fever (88%), neck pain (50%) and chest pain (42%). Based on imaging, 17/24 (71%) had vascular inflammation in the thoracic aorta and supra-aortic vessels, but 5/24 (21%) reportedly had inflammation limited to the carotid area.

CONCLUSION

This review suggests that LVV may be a possible serious adverse event associated with G-CSF and chemotherapy. Successful management of drug-induced LVV requires early identification, through diagnostic imaging, and discontinuation of the drug.

An imaging-based review of systemic therapies and associated toxicities in metastatic pancreatic cancer as per the 2018 ASCO guidelines: what every radiologist should know

OBJECTIVE

To provide an overview of what radiologists should know about systemic agents utilized in the modern treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer and their associated toxicities.

RESULTS

The clinical landscape of metastatic pancreatic cancer has significantly evolved in recent years, with the advent of new first- and second-line systemic therapies. As these systemic treatment options continue to expand, knowledge of their clinically relevant features is becoming critical for radiologists. While the issues of surgical resectability and tumor response evaluation of advanced stages of pancreatic cancer have been thoroughly discussed in the radiology literature, the diagnostic importance of systemic therapies has tended to be less well appreciated. In this review, we provide a primer for radiologists outlining the radiologically pertinent features of modern systemic therapies used in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. These systemic agents are discussed from the standpoint of the newly updated 2018 ( https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-019-01954-z ) guidelines for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Understanding the radiology relevance of these modern therapeutic agents is critical, especially with regard to treatment response and toxicity assessment.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of the modern systemic therapies utilized in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer and their associated toxicity profiles is critical in diagnostic imaging interpretation.

Segmental arterial mediolysis

This article reports the case of a 51-year-old woman in whom brain MRI to follow up multiple sclerosis incidentally discovered an intramural hematoma in the extracranial internal carotid artery. MR angiography of the supra-aortic trunks and CT angiography of the aorta showed arterial dilations, aneurysms, dissections, and intramural hematomas in the internal carotid arteries, vertebral arteries, and arteries in the splanchnic territory. These findings raised suspicion of segmental arterial mediolysis. After 6 months of treatment with antiplatelet drugs, the arterial involvement resolved. Segmental arterial mediolysis is an uncommon disease; low clinical suspicion and radiologists' lack of knowledge about this entity mean that it can go undetected or be confused with other vasculitides. This report describes the most relevant pathophysiological findings and correlates them with the imaging findings.

A case of aortitis during cisplatin-based chemotherapy for cervical cancer

A case of aortitis in a patient undergoing adjuvant cisplatin and topotecan chemotherapy for cervical cancer following presentation with pyrexia of unknown origin and raised inflammatory markers is presented. Although many chemotherapy agents are known to cause small vessel vasculitis and there are several reported cases of large vessel vasculitis following gemcitabine chemotherapy, there is only one previously described case of aortitis following cisplatin administration. This case is presented with corresponding CT and ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT imaging with discussion of the literature regarding vasculitis and chemotherapy.

Carotid artery inflammation associated with gemcitabine-based therapy: a special report

Vasculitis is an inflammation that can present as acute or chronic in nature, which causes changes in the walls of blood vessels, including thickening, weakening, narrowing and scarring. Gemcitabine, an antimetabolite chemotherapeutic agent, is generally well tolerated with a favorable side effect profile. However, there is increasing evidence that it is associated with vasculitis, which can affect small and large vessels. In this case report, we report a patient who has experienced fever with severe tenderness over right carotid artery, which occurred on the fifth day after the administration of gemcitabine. The exact mechanism of gemcitabine-induced vasculitis is unknown but cessation of gemcitabine and initiation of anti-inflammatory treatment appears to aid in the resolution of the clinical syndrome.

Carotidynia after anticancer chemotherapy

Carotidynia is characterised by inflammation limited to the common carotid artery, which has been recognised as a distinct disease entity by advanced vascular imaging. Although most cases of carotidynia are idiopathic, we herein present a case of carotidynia after anticancer chemotherapy. A 64-year-old male patient received docetaxel followed by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for the treatment of lung squamous carcinoma. After the treatment, bilateral cervical pain developed. Vascular imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and ultrasonography, showed characteristics specific for carotidynia. Although there was no strong confirmation using tests such as a challenge test, our observations suggest that docetaxel or G-CSF could be a causative drug triggering carotidynia.

Gemcitabine-induced large vessel vasculitis demonstrated by PET CT: a rare, important side effect

Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analogue used widely across haemato-oncology. Side effects are generally predictable, and typically consist of cytopenia, nausea, and infection. As the present case clearly demonstrates, gemcitabine is in rare cases associated with life-threatening large vessel vasculitis, which can involve the aorta. It is important to consider gemcitabine-induced vasculitis in non-specifically unwell patients with raised inflammatory markers and fever of unknown origin, with or without signs of vascular compromise. Early recognition, cessation of gemcitabine therapy, and high-dose steroids are critical for a good outcome. PET CT is valuable to diagnose large vessel vasculitis and monitor treatment response.

Gemcitabine-induced extensive skin necrosis

An 82-year-old woman presented with oedema and extensive necrotic ulcerative lesions on the back side of her lower limbs, emerging after the second cycle of chemotherapy consisting of Gemcitabine for metastatic pancreatic cancer. The absence of any convincing argument in favor of cardiovascular or autoimmune disease led us to attribute the onset of skin necrosis to chemotherapy administration. Although skin ischemia has also been described as a paraneoplastic syndrome, in this case we could observe a temporal and causal relationship to Gemcitabine infusion. Recently, this drug has been associated with important vascular side effects; its vascular toxicity is in fact higher than previously estimated. To our knowledge, careful attention should be reserved to neoplastic patients candidated to Gemcitabine administration, especially if previously affected by arterial vascular disease, venous thromboembolism, or collagenoses.

Drug-induced rheumatic diseases: a review of published case reports from the last two years

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

New drugs are continuously being developed and some rheumatic syndromes have been associated with specific drugs. As most of the rheumatic diseases are multisystem, it is worthwhile examining the wider case report literature to see whether any recent studies signify new associations between drugs and the rheumatic diseases. The last 2 years' case reports in English were scrutinized for noninfectious association with the rheumatic diseases. Cross-referencing from MEDLINE was performed using several databases including Google scholar; British Medical Journal (BMJ) case reports were also queried separately.

RECENT FINDINGS

Fifty-three articles comprising 56 case reports are included in the review, with 27 (48.2%) associated with the vasculitides, eight (14.3%) associated with lupus and 13 (23.2%) were associated with the myositis syndromes. The commonest four groups of drugs to potentially induce rheumatic diseases were anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) drugs, oncology drugs, propylthiouracil and interferons.

SUMMARY

It is important to recognise that drugs used in other specialties may induce rheumatic disease and vigilance on making a diagnosis is the key.