Keywords
Look-alike - sound-alike drugs - medication error - overdose - therapeutic plasma
exchange - vincristine
Introduction
Vincristine is an antimicrotubular agent belonging to vinca alkaloid subtype of antineoplastic
drugs. The common adverse effects of it are alopecia, constipation, myelosuppression,
and neuropathy. Other drugs belonging to the same subtype of antineoplastic drugs
are Vinblastine, Vindesine and Vinorelbine. Due to this subtype of antineoplastic
drugs being “Look-alike, sound-alike” (LASA) drugs and part of various protocols of
haematological malignancies, there are high chances of human errors occurring during
administration of these drugs. Despite high chances of human error, only a limited
number of case reports have been published in literature about wrong doses, route
of administration, with the adverse effects and management of the same.
Vincristine overdose and wrong route of administration though has been reported in
world literature and their appropriate management is still undefined. Till date, from
India only one case report of the wrong route of administration with no report of
vincristine overdose has been published despite vincristine being a common drug used
in haematological malignancies.[1] We present here the first reported case of vincristine overdose from India with
effective use of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to combat its toxicity.
Case Report
An 18-year-old male, a recently diagnosed case of Hodgkin lymphoma, was admitted for
doxorubicin (adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD) protocol.
During the first cycle day 1 vincristine 9 mg (6 mg/m2) was accidently administrated instead of vinblastine. The mistake was immediately
identified and the patient was then immediately started on folinic acid 100 mg intravenous
every 3 h for the first 24 h and then every 6 h, prokinetics with laxatives, oral
care with betadine mouthwash and gargles, intravenous fluids with sodium chloride
(0.9%), vitamin B-complex and other supportive measures. Despite above measures, the
patient had severe jaw pain, severe oral mucositis, generalized weakness, obstipation,
nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss (4 kg on day 4), reticent behaviour with episodes
of restlessness in between, hyponatremia (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
secretion) from day 2–3 which increased with time. His laboratory parameters on day
4 were (before TPE): haemoglobin - 11.9 g/dl, platelet count - 2.8 lakh/μL, total
leukocyte count - 12,400/μL (neutrophils: 91%, lymphocytes: 8%), sodium - 124 mEq/L,
potassium - 3.8 mEq/L, creatinine - 0.55 mg/dl, total bilirubin - 0.3 mg/dl, serum
glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) - 24 IU/L, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
(SGPT) - 38 IU/L, alkaline phosphatase - 110 IU/L, albumin - 3.2 g/dl. After a thorough
literature search and discussing patient's deteriorating condition with the patient's
attendants, a decision of TPE was taken and done on day 4 after obtaining an informed
consent from the patient's attendant.
TPE was performed with Fresenius COM. TEC apheresis device using right femoral double
lumen haemodialysis catheter as venous access. Patient was premedicated with hydrocortisone
100 mg and pheniramine 22.75 mg. One volume (2200 ml) of plasma was 100% exchanged
with 4% albumin (1500 ml) and fresh frozen plasma (700 ml) along with continuous calcium
gluconate infusion (1 g in 200 ml normal saline). It was a 2-h uneventful procedure.
The patient started to show improvement from his toxic symptoms which were evident
post 90 min of starting TPE with dramatic improvement from his toxic symptoms post
completion of TPE. The patient was then monitored and discharged on day 7 with resolution
of all his toxic symptoms. On day 7 his laboratory parameters were: haemoglobin -
12.2 g/dl, platelet count - 4.6 lakh/μL, total leukocyte count - 5900/μL (neutrophils:
69%, lymphocytes: 26%), sodium - 132 mEq/L, potassium - 3.8 mEq/L, creatinine - 0.61
mg/dl, total bilirubin - 0.4 mg/dl, SGOT - 23 IU/L, SGPT - 27 IU/L, alkaline phosphatase
- 85 IU/L, albumin - 4.1 g/dl. He then completed all his 6 cycles of ABVD uneventfully
and was in complete metabolic response on completion of his therapy 6 months back.
He is now on regular 3 monthly follow-up since then with no active complaints, clinically
normal, routine laboratory test within normal limits and has no features of any long-term
toxicity.
Discussion
Vincristine, an antimicrotubular agent, belonging to vinca alkaloid subtype of antineoplastic
drugs is a common drug used in oncology especially in haematological malignancy. With
many approved and off-label indications it is only administrated intravenously with
usual dose varying between 0.5 and 1.4 mg/m2 with frequency and dosing based on the protocol and treatment phase. Its maximum
per dose is limited to 2 mg mainly to limit neurotoxicity. The common adverse effects
of it being alopecia, constipation, myelosuppression and neuropathy. There is no specific
antidote for overdose but folinic acid and TPE is recommended, based on anecdotal
experience and treatment is mainly supportive to alleviate its adverse effects predominantly
that of neurotoxicity, myelosuppression and ileus.[2],[3]
Other drugs belonging to same subtype of antineoplastic drugs are Vinblastine, Vindesine
and Vinorelbine. Due to this subtype, antineoplastic drugs being LASA drugs and part
of various protocols of haematological malignancies, chances of human error during
administration of these drugs are high.
Though an accidently overdosing due to LASA drug resulted in toxicity our case; it
adds to the few case reports in the literature supporting use of TPE in vincristine
overdose. Overdose of drugs is American Society for Apheresis category II indication
for TPE.[4] It is indicated in drugs with low volume of distribution, high protein binding and
long half-life.[5] Vincristine has a high terminal phase of elimination especially in higher dose thus
a suitable target for TPE in overdose toxicity.[6]
We also learn from this case that medication errors should be prevented, especially
with respect to antineoplastic drugs as these errors can be potentially life-threatening.
It also emphasizes the need of implementation for medication safety practices, with
a few important ones being listed below.
-
Double cross verification of drugs (including prescription error), dose (including
decimal errors) and its administration method
-
Computerized or printed orders with use of tall-man lettering for LASA drug names
-
Regulating dispensing of drugs
-
Instant access to chemotherapy protocols and drug information by the staff
-
Administration of drug especially, chemotherapy only by a trained and experienced
staff attending regular continuous medical education
-
Avoid initiation and/or administration of chemotherapy during night
-
Medication error reporting system.
The root cause analysis of the overdosing in our case found that the medication error
mainly due to similar sounding names of the drug and required stricter implementation
of medication safety practices to prevent or minimize any medication error in the
future.
Conclusion
This case adds to the few case reports in the literature supporting use of TPE in
vincristine overdose. It also emphasizes the importance of implementation medication
safety practices in the hospital, as medication errors can sometimes lead to devastating
consequences like permanent damage and death.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms.
In the form, the patient has given his consent for his images and other clinical information
to be reported in the journal. The patient understand that name and initials will
not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal identity, but anonymity cannot
be guaranteed.
