Systemic capillary leak syndrome resulting from gemcitabine treatment in renal cell carcinoma: a case report

In a few cases, gemcitabine (GCB) has been shown to result in systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) in the treatment of non-small cell lung, pancreatic, and ovarian carcinomas. SCLS is a life-threatening condition characterized by increased capillary permeability resulting in manifest pulmonary and peripheral edema. Usually SCLS responds successfully to corticosteroid therapy and diuretics. We present a case where GCB treatment likely resulted in SCLS in a male patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the absence of predisposing cardiac, pleural, or pulmonary disease.