The venotonic drug hydroxyethylrutosiden does not prevent or reduce docetaxel-induced fluid retention: results of a comparative study

Purpose: Fluid retention, which includes peripheral edema, ascites, pleural or pericardial effusion, or a combination of these that is sometimes assoc iated with significant weight gain, is one of the most troublesome cumulati ve side effects of docetaxel. A suggestive observation from the data base a vailable at the manufacturer (Rhone-Poulenc Rorer) was that patients who re ceived venotonic drugs appeared to tolerate more courses of docetaxel. This prompted a comparative study to investigate whether the venotonic drug hyd roxyethylrutosiden could reduce or delay docetaxel-related fluid retention. Methods: A total of 85 patients with metastatic breast cancer who were tre ated with docetaxel at a dose of 100 mg/m(2) with corticoid comedication we re allocated to receive either 300 mg hydroxyethylrutosidsn given orally fo ur times daily (group A) or no hydroxyethylrutosiden (group B). The end poi nt for analysis was the development of fluid retention of greater than or e qual to grade 2. Results: Fluid retention of greater than or equal to grade 2 was reported in 14 of 42 patients (33%) in group A and in 15 of 43 patie nts (35%) in group B and occurred after a median of 4 cycles of docetaxel i n both groups. Weight gain was similar in groups A and B. Conclusion: We co nclude that hydroxyethylrutosiden does not reduce or delay the incidence an d severity of docetaxel-related fluid retention.