Psychotic symptoms and confusion associated with intravenous ganciclovir in a heart transplant recipient.
A 65-year-old man underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation and was prophylactically treated for cytomegalovirus infection with intravenous ganciclovir. He received standard dosages and had normal renal function. After 6 days of therapy he experienced psychotic symptoms with hallucinations, confusion, and disorientation. His altered mental status resolved after the drug had been discontinued for 5 days. Ganciclovir was suspected as a cause of the symptoms. Alternative etiologies of were explored and excluded.
Southworth
M R
MR
Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612, USA.
Dunlap
S H
SH
D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003221:Confusion / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000209:etiology*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir