Pharmacological Approach for Prevention of Bleomycin-Induced Lung Injury

Bleomycin is a chemotherapeutic medication commonly use in the treatment of Hodgkin’s disease and germ cell tumors. Pulmonary fibrosis is major and dose limiting adverse effect of the drug. There is not currently any equal alternative approach or a medical agent for prevention of its pulmonary injury. We searched scientific databases in order to find investigational pharmacologic medicines in prevention of bleomycin-induced lung toxicity (BILI). Results revealed that some anti-inflammatory and antioxidant preparations such as statins, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), supplements (vitamin D3, L-arginine, selenium), and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RASS) inhibitors might be effective in preclinical models of pulmonary toxicity mediated by bleomycin. However, we still need more in vivo studies and large human randomized clinical trials to confirm their benefits.