title: Clonazepam prophylaxis and busulfan-related myoclonic epilepsy in autografted acute leukemia patients.
abstract: A prospective neurological and electroencephalographic (EEG) study was performed in sixteen leukemia patients receiving busulfan (BU) and cyclophosphamide before autologous bone marrow transplantation. All patients were given anticonvulsant prophylaxis with a combination of phenobarbital (PB) and clonazepam (CLZ). Neurological examination and EEG were performed prior to and soon after completion of BU treatment and were repeated two months later. No tonic-clonic and/or myoclonic convulsions were observed. In two patients, comparison of EEG recorded before and upon completion of BU administration revealed modification of features. EEG re-evaluated two months after BU showed normalization in one of the two patients. BU may trigger both generalized and myoclonic seizures together with EEG abnormalities; PB combined with CLZ may be useful prophylactic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopathology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meloni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nasta
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spalice
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Raucci
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iannetti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002066:Busulfan / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002998:Clonazepam; D002066:Busulfan