A throbbing pain in the head: trastuzumab-induced migraine.
Trastuzumab, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, is used in the treatment of both early-stage and metastatic breast cancer. In general it is well tolerated, with a flu-like syndrome occurring frequently a few hours after administration, including symptoms such as fever, sweating, skin rash, nausea and headache. A migraineous headache however has never been described as an adverse event. Here we present a patient in whom a strong relationship between trastuzumab infusion and a migraineous headache syndrome was present, without evidence of metastatic disease. Treatment with corticosteroids for the infusion-related complaints resulted in significant pain relief.
Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. fg.vanrooij@neuro.umcn.nl
Frank G
FG
van Rooij
Lucille D A
LD
Dorresteijn
Maikel M J A
MM
Van Bokhoven
Carla C P
CC
Verstappen
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000068878:Trastuzumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068878:Trastuzumab