Multiorgan failure associated with lomustine overdose

To report a lomustine overdose in a patient with anaplastic astrocytoma.

A 28-year-old woman with anaplastic astrocytoma was treated with partial resection and radiation therapy followed by a lomustine-containing regimen. The patient took lomustine 1400 mg po over a week, her regular dose being 200 mg on day 1 of the regimen. Pancytopenia developed within a week after the last dose of lomustine and the patient was admitted to the bone marrow transplant unit for supportive care. About 3 weeks later, the patient gradually developed a multiorgan dysfunction, including liver, brain, and lungs without evidence of infection or tumor progression, and died on day 45 of hospitalization.

This is the third reported case of lomustine overdose that resulted from supplying the patient with more tablets than needed for 1 dose. Although late hematopoietic recovery may be possible after such a high dose of lomustine, other organ toxicities might be detrimental.

Physicians and pharmacists should avoid supplying more tablets than needed for 1 lomustine dose. High doses of lomustine may cause irreversible multiorgan toxicities.