Docetaxel

Respiratory

Interstitial pneumonitis has been attributed to docetaxel in four cases [ ]. None of the patients had lung disease and they all had normal liver function. Within 8–14 days of receiving a second cycle of docetaxel (75 mg/m ² in three cases and 60 mg/m ² in the other), all developed acute dyspnea and fever, which progressed until they needed ventilation; two died. In contrast, in a study of 33 patients treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin, only one had reduced diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide, with no accompanying clinical or radiological changes [ ].