Painful peripheral neuropathy associated with voriconazole use.
BACKGROUND
Voriconazole is a new antifungal agent that has been recently introduced into clinical practice. We found no published reports of painful peripheral neuropathy associated with its use.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a unique case of painful peripheral neuropathy associated with voriconazole use.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
A 43-year-old patient who had undergone liver transplantation received voriconazole for invasive deep sinus aspergillosis and developed intolerable pain in all extremities.


RESULTS
A laboratory workup and electromyographic and nerve conduction studies were performed to exclude other causes of neuropathy in this complicated patient. Results of electromyographic and nerve conduction studies were suggestive of a demyelinating neuropathy. Symptoms and signs of neuropathy disappeared shortly after voriconazole discontinuation, suggesting a possible role in the development of neuropathy. The patient continues to do well 10 months after this event.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of voriconazole-associated peripheral neuropathy. Awareness of this association and careful monitoring for neurological signs are necessary for patients receiving voriconazole.
Tsiodras
Sotirios
S
Academic Department of Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, 114 Vassilisis, Sofias Avenue, Athens, Greece.
Zafiropoulou
Rodesa
R
Kanta
Efthymia
E
Demponeras
Christos
C
Karandreas
Nikos
N
Manesis
Emanuel K
EK
D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065819:Voriconazole
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D065819:Voriconazole