Sub-Acute Toxicosis Caused by Multiple Doses of Tegafur/Uracil for Suicide: A Case Report

    January 2007 in “ The Kitakanto Medical Journal ”
    Shuichi Hagiwara, Takashi Ogino, Yuga Takahashi, Akira Isaka, Taro Nameki, Kaie Kagoshima, Takuro Yamada, Kouichi Ishihara, Hikaru Hiraishi, Kazutaka Kurabayashi, Hiroshi Handa, Yuichi Iino
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    Studysummary This report documents a case where a man survived sub-acute toxicity from an overdose of the anticancer drug UFT due to effective treatment with antibiotics and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    A 41-year-old man attempted suicide by ingesting a large dose of the oral anticancer drug tegafur/uracil (UFT), leading to sub-acute toxicosis characterized by bone-marrow suppression and hair loss. His condition was treated successfully with empiric antibiotic therapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). The report highlighted the importance of strong antibacterial chemotherapy and G-CSF in managing UFT toxicosis, and suggested that if G-CSF is ineffective, a bone marrow biopsy and potential bone marrow transfusion should be considered.
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