Acute and sub-acute neurological toxicity in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract

Eighty percent of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survive with current treatments. Neurotoxicity is an infrequent adverse event. We describe clinical presentations of neurological toxicity, phases of treatment when these adverse events were more frequent and patients ́ outcome. From January-1995 to December-2015, 1379 ALL cases were admitted. Neurotoxicity was diagnosed in 49 patients (3.6%) and classified according to neurological syndromes. Medical records, laboratory-tests and images were reviewed. The diagnosed syndromes were: a) Methotrexate-leukoencephalopathy (MLE) (35.4%); b) Cerebral-venous-sinus thrombosis following L-Asparaginase administration (26.5%); c) Vincristine-induced-vocal-cord paralysis (VVCP) (14.2%); d) Stroke-associated vasospasm (14%), after high-dose methotrexate e) Severe polyneuropathy (6.1%); f) Methotrexate myelopathy (2%); and g) Pseudotumor-cerebri (2%) associated with corticosteroid therapy. Neurotoxicity was diagnosed during induction in 55% of cases. We conclude that MLE was the most frequent syndrome. VVCP was observed in infants and Down patients. Seizure was the most common symptom and toxicity occurred mainly during induction phase.

Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Neurological toxicity.