title: Toxic neuropathy in patients with pre-existing neuropathy.
abstract: The authors report significant worsening of a pre-existing neuropathy in six patients who received "non-toxic" dosages of known neurotoxic agents. Before treatment, baseline total neuropathy score (TNS) averaged 9.5 (range 0 to 19). After chemotherapy (Taxol [125 to 175 mg/m(2) x 4]; vincristine [2 to 5 mg]; cisplatin [40 mg/m(2) x 8]; and thalidomide [60 g]), the TNS averaged 22 (range 13 to 29). The authors conclude that functionally disabling toxic neuropathy can occur in patients with pre-existing neuropathy at standard doses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. vchaudh@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simmons-O'Brien
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide; D014750:Vincristine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin