Reactions 1379 - 26 Nov 2011

SCetuximab

Deep vein and arterial thrombosis: case reportA 35-year-old man developed deep vein and arterial

thrombosis during treatment with cetuximab for left tonsilcarcinoma.

The man started on cetuximab weekly at 400 mg/m2 inthe first week and then at 250 mg/m2 thereafter [route notstated] concurrently with radiotherapy. He developed skinreactions on his cheek from the second week. After fourdoses of cetuximab, he felt a sudden pain in his left calfarea; the pain radiated to his left foot. He also lost sensationbelow his left ankle joint. His lower left leg color Dopplerscan showed complete thrombosis of the lower superficialpopliteal, femoral and proximal tibial arteries and veinswith some collateral channels. No flow was observed in hisanterior tibial artery and lower posterior tibial artery.

The man underwent emergency embolectomy andreceived low molecular weight heparin. He remained underobservation for 48 hours, but showed no improvement.Additionally, there were skin colour changes in the foot. Hisrepeat color Doppler scan confirmed previous findings andhis lower left leg was amputated. He continued onradiotherapy alone without cetuximab.Gupta D, et al. Deep vein and artery thrombosis associated with cetuximab-basedchemoradiotherapy. Indian Journal of Pharmacology 43: 478-480, No. 4, Jul-Aug2011. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0253-7613.83135 -India 803063159

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Reactions 26 Nov 2011 No. 13790114-9954/10/1379-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved