neurotoxicity

Introduction

Toxic to nerves or the nervous system. Individuals with certain disorders may be especially vulnerable to neurotoxic agents.

Etiology

Neurotoxic agents include:

• pharmaceutical agents
  • altretamine (Hexalen)
  • artemether
  • artesunate
  • carboplatin (CDBCA, Paraplatin)
  • ceftazidime (Fortaz, Tazidime, Tazicef)
  • ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Ciloxan)
  • cytosine arabinoside or cytarabine (Cytosar, ARA-C, HiDAC, Depocyt)
  • dacarbazine (DTIC)
  • FK506 (tacrolimus, Prograf)
  • fludarabine (Fludara)
  • gentamicin (Garamycin, Genoptic)
  • glycinexylidide (GX)
  • imipenem
  • lomustine (CCNU, CeeNU)
  • monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX)
  • penicillin
  • streptomycin
  • teniposide (Vumon)
  • thioguanine
  • ticarcillin (Ticar)
  • tobramycin (Nebcin, Tobrex)
  • vinblastine or vincaleukoblastine (Velban, Velsar, Alkaban-AQ) * neurotoxicity*
  • vincristine, 22-oxovincaleukoblastine or leurocristine (Oncovin, Vincasar PFS)
    • zidovudine or azidothymidine (Retrovir, AZT)
• heavy metals
  • lead
  • mercury
• industrial & cleaning solvents

Clinical manifestations

• limb weakness or numbness
• loss of memory
• visual impairment
• cognitive impairment
• headache
• behavioral disorder
• sexual dysfunction

Management

• eliminate or reduce exposure to the toxic substance
• symptomatic & supportive therapy
• prognosis
  • depends upon the length & degree of exposure & severity of neurological injury
  • complete recovery -> residual deficits -> death

More general terms

• toxicity; poisoning; overdose

More specific terms

• immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS)

Additional terms

• nervous system

Patient information

neurotoxicity patient information