[Pharmacological study and pharmaceutical intervention to reduce intravenous injection-induced vascular injury]

Prevention of vasculitis and vascular pain by side route administration of vinorelbine: A case report

A 49-year-old female with non-small-cell lung cancer was placed on adjuvant chemotherapy with vinorelbine (25 mg/m²: Day 1.8) and cisplatin (80 mg/m²: Day 1). The simultaneous intravenous infusion of vinorelbine from the side route and 500 mL of saline from the main route successfully prevented vasculitis and vascular pain.

Risk factors for venous irritation in patients receiving vinorelbine: a retrospective study

Background

Vinorelbine is known to be effective in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer. However, venous irritation is a common side effect. Although there have been some reports on risk factors for venous irritation in patients receiving vinorelbine, the factors evaluated have been limited and the results inconclusive. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for venous irritation in patients receiving vinorelbine, and factors likely associated with venous irritation, including new factors such as hot compress with a hot towel  for prevention of venous irritation.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients treated with vinorelbine at Kyorin University Hospital, Japan, between March 2013 and December 2016 and divided them into the two groups according to whether or not they had venous irritation. Clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups.

Results

Venous irritation occurred in 24 (38.1%) of 63 patients who received vinorelbine. The median number of times vinorelbine was administered before onset of venous irritation was 3 (range 1–14). The group with venous irritation had a significantly lower body surface area than the group without venous irritation (p = 0.035). Low body surface area was also the only significant risk factor for vinorelbine-associated venous irritation in multivariate analysis (adjusted odds ratio 70.42 per 1 m²decrement, 95% confidence interval 1.54–3236.25, p = 0.029). There was no association between the occurrence of venous irritation and the other covariates, such as use of a hot compress, history of diabetes mellitus, or use of a generic formulation of vinorelbine.

Conclusion

Low body surface area may be a risk factor for venous irritation in patients receiving vinorelbine. Use of hot compress with a hot towel did not prevent venous irritation.