Irritant chemotherapy drugs are known to...

Irritant chemotherapy drugs are known to...

• A. Irritant drugs damage intima of veins, causing phlebitis, sclerosis, and limiting future venous access
• B. Will not cause tissue damage if infiltrated
• C. Cause systemic nephrotoxicity
• D. Have no vascular effects

Answer: (A)

Irritant chemotherapy drugs primarily injure the lining of the vein where they are infused. This endothelial damage triggers inflammation of the vein (phlebitis) and over time can cause scarring and narrowing of the vein (venous sclerosis). Because the vein becomes more fibrotic, it can be harder to establish reliable IV access for future treatment. That vascular effect is the defining feature of irritants: they irritate the vein itself rather than causing widespread systemic toxicity as the primary issue. While some drugs can cause systemic toxicity like nephrotoxicity, that is not what characterizes irritants, and saying there is no tissue damage if infiltrated would be inaccurate—some local irritation can occur, though it is typically less severe than with vesicants that cause tissue necrosis.

Irritant chemotherapy drugs primarily injure the lining of the vein where they are infused. This endothelial damage triggers inflammation of the vein (phlebitis) and over time can cause scarring and narrowing of the vein (venous sclerosis). Because the vein becomes more fibrotic, it can be harder to establish reliable IV access for future treatment. That vascular effect is the defining feature of irritants: they irritate the vein itself rather than causing widespread systemic toxicity as the primary issue. While some drugs can cause systemic toxicity like nephrotoxicity, that is not what characterizes irritants, and saying there is no tissue damage if infiltrated would be inaccurate—some local irritation can occur, though it is typically less severe than with vesicants that cause tissue necrosis.