{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Reversible renal-limited thrombotic microangiopathy due to gemcitabine-dexamethasone-cisplatin therapy: a case report.
{Author}: Nishikubo M;Shimomura Y;Hiramoto N;Sawamura N;Yamaguchi T;Hara S;Ishikawa T;
{Journal}: BMC Nephrol
{Volume}: 22
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 05 2021 12
{Factor}: 2.585
{DOI}: 10.1186/s12882-021-02386-y
{Abstract}: Gemcitabine and cisplatin are chemotherapeutic agents used for treating multiple cancers, and these agents are sometimes used in combination. Drug-induced thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a rare but potentially fatal complication. It typically presents as a systemic disease with the classical triad of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and organ damage. In contrast to systemic TMA, cases of renal-limited TMA, defined as biopsy-proven renal TMA without the classical triad, have been reported with relatively good prognosis. Most cases of renal-limited TMA are associated with calcineurin inhibitors, and cases of drug-induced renal-limited TMA due to gemcitabine-dexamethasone-cisplatin therapy have been rarely reported.
A 43-year-old woman with lymphoma developed acute kidney injury with marked proteinuria, microhematuria, and abnormal urinary casts after receiving one cycle of gemcitabine-dexamethasone-cisplatin therapy. Although she did not show hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, renal biopsy showed diffuse injury to the glomerular endothelial cells, supporting the diagnosis of renal-limited TMA. Her condition improved only with the cessation of gemcitabine and cisplatin treatment. She received another chemotherapy without gemcitabine and platinum agents, and no recurrence of renal-limited TMA was observed.
Drug-induced TMA occurs early after gemcitabine and cisplatin use in renal-limited form and is reversible when detected and managed in a timely manner. Urinalysis, which is simple and inexpensive and can be easily performed, is a beneficial screening tool for early-onset drug-induced TMA among patients who receive gemcitabine-dexamethasone-cisplatin therapy.