title: Ventral polyradiculopathy with pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: A 3-year-old girl with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in remission developed lower extremity paraparesis and areflexia 15 days after receiving intrathecal methotrexate, cytarabine, and hydrocortisone. Cerebrospinal fluid protein was 107 mg/dl. Compound muscle action potential amplitudes were reduced, F waves were absent, and sensory conduction studies were normal. Needle electromyography (EMG) revealed reduced motor unit potential recruitment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed lumbosacral ventral root enhancement. She was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and slowly recovered. Nerve conduction and EMG abnormalities correlated with MRI root enhancement, facilitated early diagnosis, and distinguished this from a myelopathy or distal polyneuropathy. These findings could represent selective ventral nerve root vulnerability to intrathecal chemotherapy. A selective autoimmune process cannot be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. sanderso@massmed.org
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Baquis
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monteleone
authors.forename: J Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003561:Cytarabine; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008727:Methotrexate