Chemotherapy-related polyneuropathy may deteriorate quality of life in patients with B-cell lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective study was performed to evaluate the effect of chemotherapy-related neurotoxicity on quality of life (QOL) of patients with lymphoma.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with diffuse large B-cell or follicular lymphoma without prior evidence of neuropathy were enrolled. Patients underwent the evaluations based on neuropathy symptom and disability score, nerve conduction studies, and SF-36 questionnaire for QOL assessment. They received six cycles of chemotherapy every three weeks, and all evaluations were repeated during and after the completion of 6th cycle.


RESULTS
Sensory neuropathy-associated symptoms were observed in 27 patients (84.4%), and polyneuropathy was confirmed by nerve conduction study in 14 patients (43.8%). These patients with polyneuropathy showed worse QOL in domains mainly associated with physical health status including "physical function" compared to patients without polyneuropathy. There was a significant association of neuropathy symptom and disability scores with "bodily pain" and "vitality" of QOL domains. The serial evaluations of patients with neuropathy showed a worsening of QOL and neuropathy symptom scores during chemotherapy, then improvement of these values after chemotherapy. Thus, the final nerve conduction study confirmed the decrease in polyneuropathy compared to the 2nd evaluation (P = 0.032).


CONCLUSIONS
Chemotherapy-related polyneuropathy may deteriorate QOL of patients with lymphoma, mainly physical health-associated QOL.
Kim
Byung-Jo
BJ
Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Ha-Rim
HR
Roh
Hak Jae
HJ
Jeong
Du-Shin
DS
Kim
Byung Soo
BS
Park
Kun-Woo
KW
Cho
S Charles
SC
So
Yuen T
YT
Oh
Sung Yong
SY
Kim
Seok Jin
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D000069283:Rituximab; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone