Syndrome de détresse respiratoire aiguë Ã la gemcitabine d'évolution favorable

Gemcitabine is a new important drug used to treat solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic, bladder and breast cancers. Myelosuppression is the most common adverse effect. Pulmonary toxicity is rare and usually mild and self-limiting with acute dyspnea. Severe pneumonitis and potentially fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have been described in patients treated for a non-small cell lung cancer. We report a case of gemcitabine-induced ARDS in a 72-year old patient treated with gemcitabine and cisplatine for a bladder cancer without lung metastasis. Administration of high doses of corticosteroids led to a prompt symptomatic improvement.