Chemotherapy-related posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome.
BACKGROUND
A 45-year-old woman with small-cell lung cancer presented to a hospital emergency department in an acute confusional state, with blurred vision and mild headache. Following progressively increasing lethargy, she subsequently became unresponsive to tactile and verbal stimuli. She had recently been started on chemotherapy with carboplatin and gemcitabine.


METHODS
Physical examination, imaging studies including brain MRI, noncontrast brain CT scans and magnetic resonance angiography, continuous EEG monitoring, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.


METHODS
Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PRES) related to chemotherapy, and nonconvulsive status epilepticus related to PRES.


RESULTS
Withholding of chemotherapeutic agents, and antiseizure therapy for the status epilepticus.
Bhatt
Archit
A
Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. archit.bhatt@ht.msu.edu
Farooq
Muhammad U
MU
Majid
Arshad
A
Kassab
Mounzer
M
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D054038:Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D016190:Carboplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine