Acute vascular toxicity after combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin for testicular cancer.

Twenty-one consecutive patients with testicular cancer treated with bleomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin (PVB) were evaluated for acute vascular ischaemic events during chemotherapy. Angina pectoris occurred in 8/21 (38%) patients, a median 5.6 weeks after initiation of chemotherapy and persisted for 2-7 days. Raynaud's phenomenon was detected in seven (33%) subjects, transient ischaemia of the toes was found in six (29%) patients, one patient complained of migraine, but none had major cerebrovascular accidents. Patients with and without angina pectoris and/or Raynaud's phenomenon did not differ in respect of age, histology of tumor or medication. Ischaemia occurred at any time during the course of chemotherapy. No correlation was found between dosage of drugs and time of onset of ischaemic reactions. However, arterial occlusive event is a frequent and common toxicity and a result of treatment with PVB.