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Perrain V, Bihan K, Bompaire F, Houillier C, Jomier F, Leclercq D, Combret S, Mahé J, Ricard D, Berzero G, Psimaras D. Leukoencephalopathy with transient splenial lesions related to 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine. Eur J Neurol 2021; 28:2396-2402. [PMID: 33817933 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and its oral prodrug capecitabine have been rarely but consistently associated with acute central nervous system toxicity, including transient leukoencephalopathies involving the splenium of the corpus callosum. METHODS We performed a retrospective search in the French Pharmacovigilance database (FPDB) (January 1985-July 2020) for adult patients affected by solid cancers who developed acute toxic leukoencephalopathies with splenial lesions following treatment with 5-FU or capecitabine. A comprehensive review of the literature helped to circumstantiate our findings. RESULTS Our research in the FPDB identified six patients who, within 3 days from their first cycle of 5-FU or capecitabine, developed acute neurological symptoms, including gait ataxia (n = 4), dysarthria (n = 3), dysmetria (n = 2), headache (n = 2), and confusion (n = 2). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed T2/FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) hyperintensities in the corpus callosum, with diffusion restriction and no contrast enhancement, generally accompanied by additional alterations in the bilateral supratentorial white matter (n = 5). All patients discontinued the agent supposedly responsible for the toxicity and experienced full recovery after a median of 8.5 days from symptom onset. Control MRI showed a progressive normalization of acute MRI abnormalities. Literature review identified 26 cases with similar clinical and paraclinical characteristics. A single patient from the literature resumed 5-FU at a lower dose, with no recurrent toxicity. CONCLUSIONS 5-FU and capecitabine might be responsible for acute leukoencephalopathies with transient splenial lesions that are generally reversible upon drug discontinuation. Resuming the agent responsible for toxicity might be feasible in selected cases, after having excluded dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency, if expected benefits outweigh the risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentine Perrain
- AP-HP Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France
| | - Kevin Bihan
- Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, Department of Pharmacology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.,OncoNeuroTox Group, Center for Patients with Neurological Complications of Oncologic Treatments, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix et Hôpital Percy, Paris, France
| | - Flavie Bompaire
- OncoNeuroTox Group, Center for Patients with Neurological Complications of Oncologic Treatments, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix et Hôpital Percy, Paris, France.,Department of Neurology, Service de Santé des Armées, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Percy, Clamart, France
| | - Caroline Houillier
- AP-HP Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France
| | - Fanny Jomier
- Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Saint Joseph, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Leclercq
- Service de Neuroradiologie, AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Combret
- Department of Pharmacology, Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, Dijon, France
| | - Julien Mahé
- Department of Pharmacology, Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, Nantes, France
| | - Damien Ricard
- OncoNeuroTox Group, Center for Patients with Neurological Complications of Oncologic Treatments, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix et Hôpital Percy, Paris, France.,Department of Neurology, Service de Santé des Armées, Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Percy, Clamart, France
| | - Giulia Berzero
- AP-HP Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France.,Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Dimitri Psimaras
- AP-HP Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France.,OncoNeuroTox Group, Center for Patients with Neurological Complications of Oncologic Treatments, Hôpitaux Universitaires Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix et Hôpital Percy, Paris, France
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Rimkus CDM, Andrade CS, Leite CDC, McKinney AM, Lucato LT. Toxic leukoencephalopathies, including drug, medication, environmental, and radiation-induced encephalopathic syndromes. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2014; 35:97-117. [PMID: 24745887 DOI: 10.1053/j.sult.2013.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Toxic leukoencephalopathies can be secondary to the exposure to a wide variety of exogenous agents, including cranial irradiation, chemotherapy, antiepileptic agents, drugs of abuse, and environmental toxins. There is no typical clinical picture, and patients can present with a wide array of signs and symptoms. Involvement of white matter is a key finding in this scenario, although in some circumstances other high metabolic areas of the central nervous system can also be affected. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging usually discloses bilateral and symmetric white matter areas of hyperintense signal on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, and signs of restricted diffusion are associated in the acute stage. In most cases, the changes are reversible, especially with prompt recognition of the disease and discontinuation of the noxious agent. Either the MR or clinical features may be similar to several nontoxic entities, such as demyelinating diseases, leukodystrophies, hepatic encephalopathy, vascular disease, hypoxic-ischemic states, and others. A high index of suspicion should be maintained whenever a patient presents recent onset of neurologic deficit, searching the risk of exposure to a neurotoxic agent. Getting to know the most frequent MR appearances and mechanisms of action of causative agents may help to make an early diagnosis and begin therapy, improving outcome. In this review, some of the most important causes of leukoencephalopathies are presented; as well as other 2 related conditions: strokelike migraine attacks after radiation therapy syndrome and reversible splenial lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Celi Santos Andrade
- Department of Radiology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Claudia da Costa Leite
- Department of Radiology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexander M McKinney
- Department of Radiology/Neuroradiology, University of Minnesota and Hennepin County Medical Centers, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Leandro Tavares Lucato
- Department of Radiology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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