Since 1995 - Non Profit Healthcare Advice

Treatment for ground glass opacity

11/15/2007

Question:

Husband has been on recent antibiotic/prednisone treatment for ground glass appearance on recent CT after 6 cycles of Gemzar treatment for bladder cancer. Has had no improvement in breathing and may even be getting worse. Has COPD with approximately 46% lung capacity before bladder surgery and followup chemo. His Dr. has done cocci bloodwork,but have no results yet. Will continuation of antibiotics improve his breathing? Anything we can request or do to improve his breathing as he will refuse more chemo until his breathing is better maintained.

Answer:

Gemzar (gemcitabine) can cause interstitial lung disease with pulmonary infiltrates. When this occurs, other causes of pulmonary infiltrates must be excluded (such as infection). If the interstitial lung disease is due to gemcitabine, then discontinuation of the drug is usually necessary. Consultation with a pulmonologist is frequently necessary to determine if the pulmonary infiltrates are due to the gemcitabine or due to something else.

For more information:

Go to the Lung Center health topic.