Drug-induced aortitis in a patient with ovarian cancer treated with bevacizumab combination therapy.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To review and evaluate drug-induced vasculitis, which is an extremely rare complication of chemotherapy. CASE REPORT A 47-year-old woman with ovarian cancer developed aortitis during bevacizumab combination chemotherapy. Contract-enhanced CT showed concentric thickening of the descending aorta. Antibiotics were administered, but a repeat CE-CT scan showed no resolution of the aortitis. To treat the aortitis, she was started on oral prednisolone. A subsequent CE-CT scan showed no signs of aortitis. She was thus re-started on a modified chemotherapy regimen. CONCLUSION: Aortitis should be considered in patients receiving bevacizumab combination therapy who develop persistent fever and upper-abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced CT is useful for detecting drug-induced aortitis.