title: Experience with vincristine--associated neurotoxicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the frequency and severity of occurrence of vincristine-associated neurotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case series study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hurlingham Oncology Clinic, Nairobi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients treated for various neoplasms with vincristine containing chemotherapeutic regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frequency and degree of neurotoxicity when vincristine was given at the standard dose of 1.4 mg/m2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients (13.2%) developed peripheral neuropathy, one having had it even before vincristine was started. Therefore only four (10.5%) had it attributed to vincristine. Four of the patients who developed neuropathy (80%) were HIV-positive. Neuropathy grade 2 (severe) occurred in only two patients leading to discontinuation of the drug. All the neurotoxicity resolved after discontinuation of vincristine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vincristine induced neuropathy occurred but was rarely severe at a dose of 1.4 mg/m2. It appeared to be more frequent in HIV infected individuals, but controlled studies with bigger sample sizes are required to determine whether this may warrant routine capping of the dose at a maximum of 2 mg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Othieno-Abinya
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Nyabola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014750:Vincristine