OBJECTIVE: To report a case of ethyl alcohol intoxication associated with paclitaxel administration. CASE SUMMARY: A patient who received a 3-hour paclitaxel infusion for metastatic breast carcinoma and developed symptoms of acute alcohol intoxication. A blood ethanol concentration drawn at the end of the paclitaxel infusion was 97.8 mg/dL (0.098%). DISCUSSION: The amount of alcohol contained in paclitaxel is discussed. A review of the literature revealed one patient series where the highest blood alcohol concentration was one-third that seen in our patient. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should recognize the potential for alcohol intoxication with paclitaxel administration. This is especially pertinent when higher doses are given over a short period of time.
OBJECTIVE: To report a case of ethyl alcohol intoxication associated with paclitaxel administration. CASE SUMMARY: A patient who received a 3-hour paclitaxel infusion for metastatic breast carcinoma and developed symptoms of acute alcohol intoxication. A blood ethanol concentration drawn at the end of the paclitaxel infusion was 97.8 mg/dL (0.098%). DISCUSSION: The amount of alcohol contained in paclitaxel is discussed. A review of the literature revealed one patient series where the highest blood alcohol concentration was one-third that seen in our patient. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should recognize the potential for alcohol intoxication with paclitaxel administration. This is especially pertinent when higher doses are given over a short period of time.
Authors: F Doz; J C Gentet; F Pein; D Frappaz; P Chastagner; S Moretti; G Vassal; J Arditti; O V Tellingen; A Iliadis; J Catalin Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2001-03-02 Impact factor: 7.640