title: Effect of high dose cytosine arabinoside on quantitative EEG in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: Background EEG activity is considered an index of functional state of brain. Chemotherapy (CT), used for non-central nervous system (CNS) cancer, can cross the blood brain barrier and contribute to changes in the functional state of brain that can alter background EEG activity. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) is superior to conventional EEG in the detection of subtle alterations of EEG background activity and for this reason, the use of qEEG might assist the clinician in evaluating the possible effect of CT on the CNS. The nucleoside analog cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) is one of the milestone chemotherapeutic agents used for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Our observational study evaluates the possible effect of Ara-C on the qEEG of patients with AML, without CNS involvement. We conducted an observational study on newly diagnosed AML patients without CNS involvement, undergoing treatment with Ara-C to analyze the possible effect of Ara-C high doses on EEG background activity using qEEG analyses. A total of nine AML patients, 5 with Ara-C i.v. high dose (≥3 g/m(2) die), 4 with standard dose (100 mg/m(2) die) underwent qEEG (at rest, during hyperpnoea, mental arithmetic task and blocking reaction). We compared the EEG background activity of the two groups at baseline and after 6 months. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the two groups in mean relative power for all frequency bands, at rest and during hyperpnoea, mental arithmetic task and blocking reaction. Our data indicate that high dose Ara-C i.v. did not induce significant changes on EEG background activity in our patients. Future research in this area could include prospective studies that would combine qEEG and neuropsychological testing to assess the impact of CT on brain functions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Tumor-Related Epilepsy, Area of Supporting Care, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maschio
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marchesi
authors.affiliation: Center for Tumor-Related Epilepsy, Area of Supporting Care, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dispenza
authors.affiliation: Center for Tumor-Related Epilepsy, Area of Supporting Care, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dinapoli
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics/Scientific Direction, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sperati
authors.affiliation: Center for Tumor-Related Epilepsy, Area of Supporting Care, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petreri
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Svitlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gumenyuk
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dessanti
authors.affiliation: Center for Tumor-Related Epilepsy, Area of Supporting Care, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarabla
authors.affiliation: Center for Tumor-Related Epilepsy, Area of Supporting Care, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Tonino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cantelmi
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mengarelli
keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; CNS; High dose cytosine arabinoside; qEEG