title: Peripheral neuropathy in Crohn's disease patients treated with metronidazole.
abstract: Thirteen pediatric patients with Crohn's disease, aged 12-22 yr, were studied to assess the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy due to oral metronidazole. After 4-11 mo of therapy, 11 of 13 patients (85%) had a sensory peripheral neuropathy, determined by abnormal neurologic examinations or reduced nerve conduction velocities, or both. Only 6 of the 11 patients were symptomatic. Nine of 11 patients with peripheral neuropathy had their metronidazole discontinued and 2 had the dose reduced to less than 10 mg/kg X day. Follow-up evaluations of the 9 patients whose metronidazole had been discontinued 5.5-13 mo earlier demonstrated complete resolution of the peripheral neuropathy in 5, improvement in 3, and no change in 1. In the 2 patients whose metronidazole dose was reduced, 1 showed worsening and 1 showed complete resolution of the neuropathy after 10-12 mo of continued therapy.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daum
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selman
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Vishnubhakat
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Aiges
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silverberg
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012026:Reflex, Stretch; D012677:Sensation
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole