title: Intrathecal administration of etoposide in the treatment of malignant meningitis: feasibility and pharmacokinetic data.
abstract: Two patients presenting with malignant meningitis resulting from small-cell carcinoma of the lung and with lymphoblastic leukemia, respectively, were treated by intrathecal administration of etoposide. In both cases, this treatment was well tolerated and produced relief of the central nervous system symptoms. Pharmacokinetic data showed that cerebrospinal fluid drug levels of up to 5.2 micrograms/ml were achieved, which were considerably higher than those obtained after i.v. administration of high-dose etoposide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Gaast
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sonneveld
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mans
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Splinter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide