Pharmacovigilance of radiopharmaceuticals used for prostate and breast cancer in Brazil

Abstract

SummaryRadiopharmaceuticals are used commonly and their pharmacokinetics can be altered by drug interactions with other prescribed medicines and interactions with the equipment used to administer them. No pharmacovigilance studies have been performed on their use in Brazil. In order to evaluate the quality, efficacy and security of the radiopharmaceuticals in use in Brazil, a study was conducted involving the main users of radiopharmaceuticals, that is hospitals. A total of 12 hospitals agreed to participate in this study. During the study period (2 years), a questionnaire was administered. Over 400 patients were interviewed and their comments were recorded. Only one of a subset of 55 patients with cancer who received 99mTc-MDP suffered an adverse reaction. The number of patients in this study was small; however, these results are quite similar to those found in European studies.