Case Report
Year: 2022 | Month: March | Volume: 9 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 365-371
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20220341
Neurotoxic Effects of Cytarabine in a Patient with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia: A Case Report
Karlina Isabella1, Wayan Losen Adnyana2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Udayana University, Sanglah General Hospital, Bali, Indonesia
2Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Udayana University, Sanglah General Hospital, Bali, Indonesia
Corresponding Author: Karlina Isabella
ABSTRACT
Cytarabineis a chemotherapy agent that has various side effects, including neurotoxicity. In the last 15 years, several case reports show various neurotoxic symptoms caused by Cytarabine high doses. The symptoms also vary from mild to severe. Here we report a case of a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia who developed neurotoxic effects after Cytarabine administration.
A 52-year-old man came with worsened headaches since one week before being admitted to the hospital. The patient also complained of a left eyelid that seemed to close and was hard to open. The patient's last chemotherapy was eight days before the first headache complained. The electroneuromyography showed a prolonged nerve conduction on median, ulnar, tibial nerves suggesting peripheral neuropathy. Patient were treated with steroid injection, analgetic, and vitamin B Complex. After three days of treatment, the symptoms resolved.
Peripheral neuropathy due to cytarabine administration usually affects the sensory compared to motoric. There is no specific therapy for neuropathy, only symptomatic. Symptoms will improve after discontinuation of therapy but do not experience complete healing in some cases.
Keywords: Cytarabine, chemotherapy, neuropathy.
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