Acute onset flaccid quadriparesis in pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma: vincristine induced or Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Peripheral Nervous System Involvement in Non-Primary Pediatric Cancer: From Neurotoxicity to Possible Etiologies

Peripheral neuropathy is a well described complication in children with cancer. Oncologists are generally well aware of the toxicity of the main agents, but fear the side effects of new drugs. As chemotherapeutic agents have been correlated with the activation of the immune system such as in Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN), an abnormal response can lead to Autoimmune Peripheral Neuropathy (APN). Although less frequent but more severe, Radiation Induced Peripheral Neuropathy may be related to irreversible peripheral nervous system (PNS). Pediatric cancer patients also have a higher risk of entering a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for complications related to therapy and disease. Injury to peripheral nerves is cumulative, and frequently, the additional stress of a malignancy and its therapy can unmask a subclinical neuropathy. Emerging risk factors for CIPN include treatment factors such as dose, duration and concurrent medication along with patient factors, namely age and inherited susceptibilities. The recent identification of individual genetic variations has advanced the understanding of physiopathological mechanisms and may direct future treatment approaches. More research is needed on pharmacological agents for the prevention or treatment of the condition as well as rehabilitation interventions, in order to allow for the simultaneous delivery of optimal cancer therapy and the mitigation of toxicity associated with pain and functional impairment. The aim of this paper is to review literature data regarding PNS complications in non-primary pediatric cancer.

Genetic factors influencing the development of vincristine-induced neurotoxicity

Introduction: One of the most common side effects during vincristine (VCR) use is the establishment of VCR-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN). Among several risk factors that can influence the development of VIPN, such as cumulative dose and patient's age, sex, ethnicity, and genetic variants, this review is focused on the genetic variability. Areas covered: A literature research was performed firstly using the following PubMed search string ((((CIPN OR (vincristine AND neurotoxicity OR (vincristine AND neuropathy))) AND (polymorphisms OR (genetic variants OR (genetic factors OR (genetic profile OR (pharmacogenetics OR (genome-wide OR (genetic risk OR (expression genotype))))))))))) but also other relevant papers cited by the selected articles were included. Based on the obtained results, we identified two main categories of genes: genes involved in pharmacokinetics (genes related to metabolism and transport) or pharmacodynamics (genes related to mechanism of action) of VCR. Expert opinion: Despite several clinical retrospective studies investigating the possible correlations between patient genotype and VIPN onset, contrasting and inconsistent results are reported. In conclusion, given the clinical relevance of VIPN, further and more focused research would be fundamental in order to identify genetic variants able to predict its development and to allow a safer management of treated patients.

Peripheral nerve disease secondary to systemic conditions in children

This review is an overview of systemic conditions that can be associated with peripheral nervous system dysfunction. Children may present with neuropathic symptoms for which, unless considered, a causative systemic condition may not be recognized. Similarly, some systemic conditions may be complicated by comorbid peripheral neuropathies, surveillance for which is indicated. The systemic conditions addressed in this review are critical illness polyneuropathy, chronic renal failure, endocrine disorders such as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2b, vitamin deficiency states, malignancies and reticuloses, sickle cell disease, neurofibromatosis, connective tissue disorders, bowel dysmotility and enteropathy, and sarcoidosis. In some disorders presymptomatic screening should be undertaken, while in others there is no benefit from early detection of neuropathy. In children with idiopathic peripheral neuropathies, systemic disorders such as celiac disease should be actively excluded. While management is predominantly focused on symptomatic care through pain control and rehabilitation, some neuropathies improve with effective control of the underlying etiology and in a small proportion a more targeted approach is possible. In conclusion, peripheral neuropathies can be associated with a diverse range of medical conditions and unless actively considered may not be recognized and inadequately managed.

Neurophysiological and clinical outcomes in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in cancer

Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant toxicity of cancer treatment, with the potential to affect long-term function and quality of life in cancer survivors. There remains a lack of consensus around optimal assessment techniques. While current approaches to CIPN assessment are focused on clinical grading scales, it is becoming increasingly evident that a more comprehensive multimodal assessment package is necessary to accurately characterise the impact of CIPN as well as gauge the utility of neuroprotective mechanisms. Neurophysiological techniques provide objective biomarkers and may enable early detection of toxicity while patient reported outcomes are necessary to determine the significance of symptoms to individual patients. In addition to providing an objective assessment, clinical neurophysiological techniques provide important insights into the contributory pathophysiological mechanisms of CIPN with different chemotherapy agents. There is a paucity of implementation of these techniques in the clinical trial setting. The present Review aims to facilitate the use of neurophysiological studies as part of comprehensive assessment packages for the monitoring of CIPN by summarising current understanding of neurophysiological changes that underlie the development of neuropathy, clinical presentations and patient reported outcomes as well as advantages and limitations of current techniques for the neurophysiological assessment of CIPN.

Lymphoma-associated dysimmune polyneuropathies

Lymphoma consists of a variety of malignancies of lymphocyte origin. A spectrum of clinical peripheral neuropathy syndromes with different disease mechanisms occurs in about 5% of lymphoma patients. There exists a complex inter-relationship between lymphoproliferative malignancies and autoimmunity. An imbalance in the regulation of the immune system presumably underlies various immune-mediated neuropathies in patients with lymphoma. This article reviews lymphoma and more-or-less well-defined dysimmune neuropathy subgroups that are caused by humoral and/or cell-mediated immune disease mechanisms directed against known or undetermined peripheral nerve antigens.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a Patient with Primary Extranodal Intestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Paraneoplastic, Drug Induced or Coincidental?

Neurological involvement is observed in 5%-25% of patients with lymphoma being either the first presentation of the disease or emerging during its course. However, Guillain-Barré syndrome is rarely reported. In this article, we present a case with intestinal lymphoma developing Guillain-Barré syndrome during the course of the disease. A 66-year-old male patient with primary extranodal intestinal lymphoma developed quadriparesis, sensory deficits and autonomic dysfunction while receiving chemotherapy. The findings of clinical, electrophysiological and laboratory examinations were consistent with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Guillain-Barré syndrome can potentially be fatal and mimic chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity, especially in patients with lymphoma, and therefore, must be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity: a critical analysis

With a 3-fold increase in the number of cancer survivors noted since the 1970s, there are now over 28 million cancer survivors worldwide. Accordingly, there is a heightened awareness of long-term toxicities and the impact on quality of life following treatment in cancer survivors. This review will address the increasing importance and challenge of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity, with a focus on neuropathy associated with the treatment of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, and hematological cancers. An overview of the diagnosis, symptomatology, and pathophysiology of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy will be provided, with a critical analysis of assessment strategies, neuroprotective approaches, and potential treatments. The review will concentrate on neuropathy associated with taxanes, platinum compounds, vinca alkaloids, thalidomide, and bortezomib, providing clinical information specific to these chemotherapies.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Pediatric Cancer Patients

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies (CIPNs) are an increasingly common neuropathic and pain syndrome in adult and pediatric cancer patients and survivors [1-69]. However, symptoms associated with CIPNs are often undiagnosed, under-assessed, and communications problems between clinicians, family members, and patients have been observed [70-73]. Less is known about the prevalence and impact of CIPNs on pediatric cancer populations [70-71]. This article aims to provide a brief understanding of CIPNs in pediatric populations, and to review the evidence for both its prevention and treatment.

Recurrent acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy following R-CHOP treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Acute flaccid paralysis following chemotherapy has a wide differential diagnosis, including drug toxicity, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), and malignant nerve infiltration. We present a case of recurrent acute quadriparesis due to AIDP following chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which resolved each time following administration of intravenous immunoglobulin. Although many chemotherapeutic agents can cause neurologic side effects, such as peripheral neuropathy, drug toxicity as a cause is a diagnosis of exclusion.

CD5-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma infiltrating the central nervous system presenting Guillain-Barré-like syndrome after chemotherapy

An 83-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain. Examination revealed mediastinal lymphoadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and infiltration of abnormal cells into the bone marrow with hemophagocytosis, and CD5-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma was diagnosed. Chemotherapy was administered and progressive weakness of the limbs, resembling a Guillain-Barré-like syndrome, subsequently appeared. Cerebrospinal fluid examination indicated lymphoma cell infiltration. Although immune globulin and steroid therapies were not effective, intrathecal injection of methotrexate, predonisolone, and cytarabine improved these symptoms. Subsequent to chemotherapy, cell surface antigen changes were observed in the cerebrospinal fluid relative to those in bone marrow.