Bleomycin overdose in a patient with stage II Hodgkin lymphoma: A case report of a medication error

Bleomycin is an antibiotic with cytotoxic properties that is commonly used in combination regimens for the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma. The inconsistency in the dosage nomenclature of bleomycin appears universally, which increases the risk of medication errors. However, to the best of our knowledge, no such cases have been reported. Herein, we present a rare case report of a medication error caused by a bleomycin overdose. At the third cycle of chemotherapy, a 25-year-old patient with stage II Hodgkin lymphoma received a 10 times higher dose of bleomycin (150 USP) than that usually used as part of the doxorubicin, bleomycin, vindesine and dacarbazine protocol (ABVD). After the medication error was discovered, the patient was immediately treated with intravenous rehydration and furosemide to promote drug clearance. Additionally, methylprednisone and acetylcysteine were administered to prevent lung injury. However, the patient developed slight nausea and mild rash, which gradually improved after treatment. After evaluation with positron emission spectrometry-computed tomography (PET-CT), the patient received four cycles of AVD chemotherapy. No other obvious abnormalities were observed during the treatment and 1-year follow-up period. Hence, the toxicities, clinical management and selection of further chemotherapy after bleomycin overdose in such cases deserved serious attention. More importantly, management measures after this error may be used as a reference in other hospitals.