DEFIBROTIDE IN THE PREVENTION OF VENOUS IRRITATION BY VINORELBINE ADMINISTRATION

Background - Vinorelbine is active in a variety of malignancies. The m ost common side effects are leukopenia and granulocytopenia, moreover Vinorelbine is a vescicant and venous irritant the incidence of the la tter being 10-26% in patients who received VNB as a 20-30 minute perip heral infusion. To prevent venous toxicity we have carried out a study in order to evaluate the efficacy of Defibrotide in this issue. Mater ials and Methods - 41 patients were enrolled in the study, the experim ental schedule was: Defibrotide 400 mg on 250 cc of normal saline iv, after 15 minutes of infusion we delivered quick, brief and repeated pu lses of Vinorelbine through the plastic tube followed by remaining Def ibrotide: For grading venous irritation we used the scale by Rittenber g et al. Results - A total of 360 infusion were delivered, the inciden ce of any venous irritation was 5% and maximum grade 2. No severe toxi city was recorded. Conclusion - These data show that Defibrotide might serve as a therapeutic drug to prevent vascular toxicity by Vinorelbi ne.