DETERMINING THE SEVERITY OF 5-FLUOROURACIL OVERDOSE
A severity score for 5-fluorouracil (5FU) toxicity is calculated by taking the square root of the sum of: (a) the square of the logarithm of the dose of 5-fluorouracil administered to the patient; and (b) the square of the logarithm of the administration rate of the 5-fluorouracil to the patient. Severity Score=[(log Dose) 2 +(log Rate) 2 ] 1/2 .
1 . A method of determining a 5-fluorouracil toxicity severity score for a patient receiving 5-fluorouracil, comprising calculating the square root of the sum of: (a) the square of the logarithm of the dose of 5-fluorouracil administered to the patient; and (b) the square of the logarithm of the administration rate of the 5-fluorouracil to the patient.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the logarithm is a base ten logarithm.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dose of 5-fluorouracil is expressed in units of milligrams.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the rate of 5-fluorouracil administration is expressed in units of milligrams per hour.
5 . A method of identifying a patient receiving a toxic or lethal 5-fluorouracil overdose comprising the method of claim 1 .
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the logarithm is a base-ten logarithm, the dose of 5-fluorouracil is expressed in units of milligrams, the rate of 5-fluorouracil administration is expressed in units of milligrams per hour, and a severity score of 4.5 or higher indicates a lethal dose of 5-fluorouracil.