title: Vincristine induced neurotoxicity in cancer patients.
abstract: Ten out of 20 children, treated with usual doses of vincristine for various types of childhood cancers, developed neurotoxicity during treatment. Peripheral neurotoxicity (mixed motor-sensory 4/10, pure motor 3/10, pure sensory 3/10) was seen in the form of weakness of lower limbs, areflexia, neuropathic pain, or sensory loss. Autonomic neuropathy presented as constipation and urinary retention in 2 children, while 2 children developed encephalopathy in form of seizures, confusion, aphasia, and transient blindness. In children with severe neuropathy, vincristine administration was withheld/dose reduced till clinical improvement started, which took about 2-3 weeks time. Nerve conduction velocity showed motor-sensory axonal polyneuropathy. Electrophysiological abnormalities were found to persist even six months after clinical recovery in children with neurotoxicity. We found a relatively higher incidence of vincristine induced neuropathy in Indian children, which was probably due to coexistence of severe malnutrition in them.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors: Sunil
authors: S
authors: Gomber
authors: Pooja
authors: P
authors: Dewan
authors: Devender
authors: D
authors: Chhonker
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014750:Vincristine