title: Central neurotoxicity of cyclosporine in two children with nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: The central neurotoxicity of cyclosporin A (CsA) has been abundantly documented in pediatric and adult recipients of bone marrow or organ transplants, with variations in the rate of occurrence from 0.5% to 35%. We report two cases of central neurotoxicity ascribable to CsA in children with nephrotic syndrome due to lipoid nephrosis. The manifestations of CsA-related central neurotoxicity include confusion, aphasia, dystonias, akinetic mutism, parkinsonism, palsies, seizures, catatonia, coma, brain hemorrhage, and cortical blindness. Decreased density of the cerebral white matter is visible by computed tomography (CT) in 50% of cases, with the most commonly involved sites being the occipital cortex, the cerebellum, the periventricular substance, and the brainstem. Magnetic resonance imaging is more sensitive and more specific than CT for investigating the white matter. High-signal lesions are seen on T2-weighted sequences in the areas that are abnormal by CT. Many risk factors have been reported, including hypomagnesemia, hypocholesterolemia, high-dose glucocorticoid therapy, arterial hypertension, and infections. We present two patients with central neurotoxicity both of whom have elevated cholesterol levels.
authors.affiliation: Département de Médecine de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, CHU Rennes, Hôpital Sud, 16 Boulevard de Bulgarie, 35056 Rennes, France. sophie.taque@chu-rennes.fr
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taque
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peudenier
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gie
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rambeau
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gandemer
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bridoux
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bétrémieux
authors.forename: Loic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Parscau
authors.forename: Edouard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Gall
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000473:pathology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine