Sunitinib Induced Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage: A Case Report

Abstract

A 68-year-old man with papillary renal cell carcinoma of the transplanted kidney presented with worsening respiratory distress while on treatment with sunitinib. Computerized tomography of chest revealed diffuse ground-glass opacities, and sequentially bloody bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was noted on bronchoscopy. There was marked clinico-radiologic improvement after withdrawal of sunitinib. This is the first case report of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage as an adverse effect of sunitinib in non-metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma. With the increasing use of sunitinib in treatment of solid tumors, it is important to be aware of this potential adverse effect. Clinicians need to be vigilant for alveolar hemorrhage in patients on sunitinib with or without evidence of lung metastasis.




J Med Cases. 2013;4(3):196-198
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jmc1011w