Gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in advanced biliary tract and gallbladder carcinoma: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group phase II trial.

Background: Gemcitabine has broad activity in a variety of solid tumors including biliary tract carcinomas. The authors evaluated 6-month survival, response, and toxicity associated with a combination of gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and leucovorin (LV) in patients with unresectable or metastatic biliary tract or gallbladder adenocarcinoma (ACA).

Methods: A 4-week course included 1000 mg/m2 gemcitabine by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes on Days 1, 8, and 15, 25 mg/m2 LV by intravenous push, and 600 mg/m2 5-FU by intravenous push after LV.

Lupus anticoagulant associated with transient severe factor X deficiency: a report of two patients presenting with major bleeding complications.

Acquired factor X (FX) deficiency is rare, but has been reported in diverse disease states, including systemic amyloidosis and respiratory infections. FX deficiency associated with lupus anticoagulant (LA) and a bleeding diathesis has not been previously reported. We report two patients both of whom presented with a severe bleeding diathesis after a preceding respiratory infection due to isolated FX deficiency associated with a LA.