Reactions 1374 - 22 Oct 2011

SAntineoplastics

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome:2 case reports

Two patients, a young man and an adult woman [ages notstated], developed posterior reversible encephalopathysyndrome (PRES) during chemotherapy [dosages, routesand durations of treatment to reaction onsets not stated].

The man was receiving ABVD chemotherapy, consistingof doxorubicin, vinblastine, bleomycin and dacarbazine, forHodgkin’s lymphoma. The woman was receiving docetaxeland gemcitabine for femoral sarcoma. Both patients wereadmitted with nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Brain MRIfindings revealed posterior hyperintense lesions that wereconsistent with vasogenic oedema. Additionally, MRangiography revealed the woman had developedintracranial vasospasm.

Both patients received antiepileptic drugs, nimodipineand blood pressure control, and their cytotoxic oedemaand status epilepticus resolved. The man later restartedABVD chemotherapy, and PRES did not recur. The womandid not receive any further chemotherapy.Foreid H, et al. Posterior reversible encephalopathy manifested by refractory statusepilepticus in two patients under chemotherapy. BMJ Case Reports 2011: 5 Aug2011. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bcr.05.2011.4181 -Portugal 803061460

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Reactions 22 Oct 2011 No. 13740114-9954/10/1374-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved