title: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in an adult patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after remission induction chemotherapy.
abstract: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has been reported in childhood leukemia patients increasingly frequently. However, the development of PRES in adult leukemia patients during chemotherapy is very rare. We present a case of PRES in an adult patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after remission induction chemotherapy. A 28-year-old woman with ALL was administered remission induction chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and L-asparaginase. After initiation of chemotherapy, the patient developed paralytic ileus and hypertension, and on day 30, she suddenly developed generalized convulsions, loss of visual acuity, and muscle weakness in the legs. Magnetic resonance imaging findings and her signs and symptoms were typical of PRES. The symptoms gradually improved following treatment with an anticonvulsant and an antihypertensive agent, and the patient underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. She has completely recovered from PRES and has been asymptomatic without leukemia relapse. During remission induction chemotherapy for ALL, PRES may be caused by multiple drugs, such as L-asparaginase, vincristine, and corticosteroids, with different mechanisms of action. PRES should be recognized as an important complication, which will occur more frequently with the increased intensity of chemotherapy for adult ALL patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
authors.forename: Shokichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kawajiri
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yuhei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Takeharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: Shio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ohwada
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sakaida
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Koutaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokote
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iseki
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nakaseko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054038:Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects; D011859:Radiography; D012074:Remission Induction; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001215:Asparaginase; D011241:Prednisone; D003630:Daunorubicin