Article Text
Abstract
We present a case of azacitidine-induced pneumonitis which is a rare adverse drug reaction and reported in less than 0.1% of cases. Common side effects of azacitidine are weakness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, injection site reactions, insomnia, among others. Our patient received azacitidine to treat her acute myeloid leukaemia and began to develop shortness of breath which progressed to dyspnoea at rest after completing a 7-day course of azacitidine and venetoclax. Initial chest X-ray revealed severe airspace disease for which the patient began receiving broad spectrum antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals therapy. Although infectious workup revealed invasive aspergillosis she did not clinically and radiologically improve despite being on isavuconazole until high-dose glucocorticoids were initiated. This case illustrates the importance of recognising and understanding the potential side effects of azacitidine and other chemotherapy agents as some adverse drug reactions can be life-threatening.
- unwanted effects / adverse reactions
- interstitial lung disease
- chemotherapy
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Footnotes
Contributors PN and AM were directly involved in the care of the patient. PN, JS and AM wrote the manuscript and performed literature review. AS was the supervising faculty physician.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent for publication Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.