Randomized trial of drip infusion versus bolus injection of vinorelbine for the control of local venous toxicity

SummaryVinorelbine is a moderate vesicant that is well known to cause local venous toxicity such as drug induced-phlebitis. We conducted a prospective randomized trial to determine whether a 1-min bolus injection (1 min bolus) of vinorelbine reduced the incidence of local venous toxicity compared with a 6-min drip infusion (6 min infusion). Non-small cell lung cancer patients who were to receive chemotherapy containing vinorelbine were randomly assigned to receive either 6 min infusion or 1 min bolus of the drug. All infusions were administered through a peripheral vein. Local venous toxicity was evaluated at each infusion up to two cycles. Eighty-three patients were randomized into the study and 81 of them assessable for analysis. One hundred thirty-eight infusions to 40 patients in 6 min infusion and 135 infusions to 41 patients in 1 min bolus were delivered. Vinorelbine induced-local venous toxicity was observed in 33% of patients in 6 min infusion and 24% in 1 min bolus. There was no statistically significant difference between the two arms (P = 0.41). The incidence of local venous toxicity per infusions was 16% (22 of 138 infusions) in 6 min infusion and 11% (15 of 135 infusions) in 1 min bolus (P = 0.47). No severe local venous toxicity was seen in either arm. In this study, the administration of in 1 min bolus of vinorelbine did not significantly reduce the incidence of local venous toxicity compared with 6 min infusion. Further studies for the control of local venous toxicity of vinorelbine are warranted.