Spinal Cord Stimulation as a Treatment Option for Refractory Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Case Report

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common oncological diseases. Chemotherapy is usually recommended as an adjuvant treatment for stage-II, -III, and -IV tumors. Approximately 10% of the patients develop neuropathic pain after chemotherapy, and they may remain refractory despite the administration of drugs that are commonly used to treat neuropathic pain. Spinal cord stimulation is a good treatment option for neuropathic pain of the lower limbs, and it should be trialed in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. We report the case of a patient with oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy and neuropathic pain refractory to oral medication who was successfully treated by spinal cord stimulation.

Polineuropatia secundária ao uso crônico de estatinas / Polineuropathy due to chronic use of statins

Os inibidores da 3-hidroxi-3-metilglutaryl coenzima-A (HMG-CoA)redutase têm eficácia comprovada em reduzir os níveis de colesterole prevenir a inflamação do endotélio coronariano, cerebral e periférico.Os efeitos adversos devem ser conhecidos, pois sua suspensão pode levar à completa reversibilidade dos sintomas. São descritas complicações musculares, entre elas, mialgia, miosite e rabdomiólise, além de complicações hepáticas, neuropatias e outras. Foram revistos 1 estudo experimental, 6 estudos populacionais, 25 relatos de casos e 2 revisões sobre o tema, a maioria apontando para a real existência dessa complicação. A neuropatia induzida por estatinas tem incidência aproximada de 12 por 100.000 pessoas-ano. Apresenta-se mais comumente como polineuropatia sensitivo-motora axonal de predomínio sensitivo. Em alguns casos, agravam neuropatias periféricas preexistentes. A fisiopatologia parece convergir para o comprometimento da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial. O diagnóstico baseia-se na relação temporal entre o uso ou suspensão da droga e o surgimento ou melhora dos sinais e sintomas. Os exames laboratoriais são fundamentais para excluir causas de neuropatias periféricas bem estabelecidas. O prognóstico relaciona-se com o momento de suspensão da droga, com relatos desde melhora completa até irreversibilidade.

Inhibitors of coenzyme A 3-hydroxy-3-metilglutaryl (HMG-CoA) reductaseinhibitors have proven to reduce cholesterol levels and prevent inflammation of the coronary, cerebral and peripheral endothelium. Adverse effects should be known, for its suspension can lead to complete reversibility of symptoms. Muscle complications are described, among them, myalgia, myositis and rhabdomyolysis, besides hepatic, neuropathies, and others. One experimental study and 6 population studies, 25 cases reports, and other 2 reviews were reviewed, most pointing to the actual existence of this complication. Statin induced neuropathy has an approximate incidence of 12 per 100,000 persons-year. It most commonly is presented as a sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy predominantly sensory. In some cases it aggravates pre-existing peripheral neuropathies. The pathophysiology seems to converge to impairment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The diagnosis is based on the temporal relationship between the use or discontinuation of the drug and the emergence or improvement of signs and symptoms. Laboratory tests are essential to exclude well established causes of peripheral neuropathies. The prognosis is related to the moment of drug suspension, with reports from complete recovery to irreversibility.

Evaluación del efecto del tratamiento con ácido lipoico administrado a la rata Wistar intoxicada con el fruto de Karwinskia humboldtiana / Evaluation of the effect of treatment with lipoic acid administered to the Wistar rat intoxicated with the fruit of Karwinskia humboldtiana

La ingesta accidental de fruto de Karwinskia humboldtiana ocasiona una parálisis flácida, simétrica, progresiva y ascendente, similar al síndrome de Guillain-Barré. Evoluciona en el transcurso de 3 a 12 meses hasta su recuperación total, pero los casos graves terminan en la muerte por insuficiencia respiratoria. No existe un tratamiento específico. La lesión histopatológica descrita en nervio periférico de pacientes, y animales de experimentación corresponde a una desmielinización segmentaria acompañada de degeneración Walleriana. Una de las toxinas extraídas a partir de la semilla, la T-514, ocasiona un incremento de radicales libres in vitro. Los radicales libres se han relacionado con la desmielinización que se presenta en otros tipos de neuropatías como en la diabética. Ya que la lesión ultraestructural que se presenta en los modelos animales de diabetes es similar a la que se observa en la intoxicación experimental con fruto de K. humboldtiana, se decidió administrar un potente agente antioxidante, el ácido a-lipoico en un modelo de intoxicación crónica por fruto de K. humboldtiana. Sin embargo, no se observó mejoría sobre las manifestaciones clínicas evaluadas en los animales o sobre las lesiones histopatológicas presentes en el nervio periférico. Estos resultados sugieren que los radicales libres no son el mecanismo principal de lesión sobre el nervio periférico en la polineuropatía causada por K. humboldtiana.

The accidental ingestion of Karwinskia humboldtiana causes a flaccid, symmetrical, progressive and ascending paralysis, similar to Guillain-Barre syndrome. It evolves over the course of 3 to 12 months until full recovery, but severe cases end in death due to respiratory failure. There is no specific treatment. The histopathological lesions described in peripheral nerve of patients and in experimental animals, corresponds to segmental demyelination accompanied by Wallerian degeneration. One of the toxins extracted from the seed, T-514, causes an increase of free radicals in vitro. Free radicals have been associated to demyelination that occurs in other types of neuropathy such as diabetic neuropathy. Since the ultrastructural damage that occurs in animal models of diabetes is similar to that observed in experimental poisoning with the fruit of K. humboldtiana, we decided to administer a powerful antioxidant, a-lipoic acid, in a model of chronic poisoning due of K. humboldtiana. However, no improvement was observed on the clinical manifestations evaluated in animals or in the histopathological lesions in the peripheral nerve. These results suggest that free radicals are not the primary mechanism of injury on the peripheral nerve caused by K. humboldtiana.

Use of pyridoxine and pyridostigmine in children with vincristine-induced neuropathy.

Four children with vincristine (VCR)-induced neuropathy are being reported. All cases were followed with the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Two were boys aged between 2 and 13 year. Electromyographic examination consisted of sensoriomotor polyneuropathy with axonal involvement in three patients. In another patient, it consisted of motor axonal polyneuropathy. In all patients, pyridoxine and pyridostigmine were successfully used in the treatment of VCR-induced neuropathy. They recovered completely with this drug combination. Recovering period of symptoms was between 1-2 week.

Organophosphate induced delayed neuropathy.

A 19 year young male who consumed organophosphorous compound and required assisted mechanical ventilation for two weeks, later on developed delayed neuropathy is described.

Amiodarone-induced Hepatitis and Polyneuropathy

Amiodarone chlorhydrate is a diiodated benzofuran derivative, and it is used to treat cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Hepatotoxicity is a relatively uncommon side effect of amiodarone, and symptomatic hepatic dysfunction occurs in fewer than 1% of the patients taking amiodarone. Cirrhosis is a rare complication that's been confirmed in 12 cases. Peripheral neuropathy occurs in 10% of patients taking aminodarone. We report here on an unusual case of amiodarone-induced hepatotoxicity and peripheral neurotoxicity. A 75 year old man with normal liver function was given amiodarone for treating his atrial fibrillation and heart failure. He developed nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness and wasting after 17.8 months therapy with amiodarone (400 mg orally once per day). Liver biopsy showed the presence of foam cells in the hepatic sinusoids and Mallory bodies in the periportal hepatocytes on light microscopy. Sural nerve biopsy showed demyelination, and nerve conduction studies showed mixed sensorimotor polyneuropathy. These observations show the necessity of monitoring the hepatic function and conducting neurologic examination of the patients treated with amiodarone.

Vincristine induced cranial polyneuropathy.

We describe a 5-year-old girl showed recovery of vincristine induced cranial polyneuropathy with pyridoxine and pyridostigmine treatment. A 5-year-old girl was diagnosed preB cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). She received chemotherapy according to the previously described modified St. Jude total therapy studies XIII. Five days after the fourth dose of vincristine, she presented with bilateral ptosis. Neurological examination revealed bilateral ptosis, and complete external opthalmoplegia with normal pupillary and corneal reflexes. She received 3.8 mg cumulative dose of vincristin before development of ptosis. A neuroprotective and neuroregenerative treatment attempt with pyridoxine and pyridostigmine was initiated. The bilateral ptosis markedly improved after 7 days of pyridoxine and pyridostigmine treatment and completely resolved after two weeks. The both agents were given for 3 weeks and were well tolerated without any side effects. During the follow up period we did not observe residue or recurrence of the ptosis.

Polineuropatia desmielinizante periférica aguda e insuficiencia renal aguda secundaria a la administración de FK506 / Acute demyelinating peripheral polyneuropathy and acute renal failure after administration of FK506

El FK 506 (tacrolimus) es un potente inmunosupresor, de uso clínico en trasplante de órgano sólido desde 1989. Aproximadamente el 5% de los pacientes que reciben FK 506 desarrollan toxicidad a nivel de sistema nervioso central, pero la afectación de sistema nervioso periférico es poco común. Hay 4 casos reportados de polineuropatía desmielinizante aguda en pacientes trasplantados de hígado. Reportamos un caso de polineuropatía desmielinizante aguda asociada al uso de FK 506 en un paciente trasplantado renal

Neurological complications after acute organophosphorus poisoning

Study was done in medical unit 1 BV hospital Bahawalpur to evaluate the neurological complications in Surviving patients of acute organophosphorus poisoning. There were 38 patients of acute poisoning admitted in unit 1 from 1 Jan 1994 to 31st Dec 1995.5 patients died due to poisoning. Out of thitrythree surviving patients five developed pure motor polyneuropathy which was axonal type. The mean duration for appearance of axonopathy clinically following poisoning was 31.8 days. There was no sensory neuropathy and other neurobehavioural changes. On follow up visits for one year there was no improvement

Glue sniffing neuropathy

N-hexane induced polyneuropathy is well recognized. Glue Sniffing, the volatile substance abuse or a long tern exposure to an offending solvent at place of work causes a type of sensory-motor neuropathy. A sub-acute pure motor presentation, in a young Bahraini male is reported and relevant literature reviewed