Amputation Triggered by Gefitinib: An Unusual Clinical Presentation

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 5; p. e60234
• Main Authors: Tao, Lihua, Ruan, Jiaqi, Chu, Xiaodong, Shan, Pengfei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cureus Inc 13.05.2024; Cureus
• Subjects: Amputation; Antidiabetics; Atherosclerosis; Case reports; Creatinine; Diabetes; Diabetic neuropathy; Endocrinology/Diabetes/Metabolism; Feet; Fingers & toes; Foot diseases; Gangrene; Glucose; Hemoglobin; Hospitalization; Infections; Inhibitor drugs; Kinases; Leg ulcers; Patients; Podiatry; Targeted cancer therapy; Therapeutics; Ultrasonic imaging; Veins & arteries; gefitinib; lower limb amputation; side-effects; adenocarcinoma of the lung; diabetes mellitus type 2
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60234

Gefitinib is an epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitor used as a targeted chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of lung cancer and other solid malignancies. The most common adverse effects of gefitinib include dermatological side effects and gastrointestinal symptoms, with rare reports of vascular side effects such as myocardial infarction and stroke. We recently reported a case of a patient with diabetes and multiple comorbidities who developed a serious lower limb vascular adverse event after gefitinib treatment, ultimately leading to amputation surgery. This is the first reported case of lower extremity amputation following gefitinib therapy in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus and lung adenocarcinoma. This case highlights the potential risk of amputation in diabetic patients receiving targeted therapies like gefitinib, especially in those with vascular complications. It emphasizes the importance of exercising extra caution when dealing with these patients.