Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 1987 Aug;234(6):365-70.
doi: 10.1007/BF00314079.

Subacute leucoencephalopathy induced by carmofur, a 5-fluorouracil derivative

S Kuzuhara  1 , N Ohkoshi, K Kanemaru, H Hashimoto, T Nakanishi, Y Toyokura
Affiliations
Review

Subacute leucoencephalopathy induced by carmofur, a 5-fluorouracil derivative

S Kuzuhara et al. J Neurol. 1987 Aug.

Abstract

Three cases of leucoencephalopathy induced by carmofur (1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil), an antineoplastic derivative of 5-fluorouracil are reported and the literature is reviewed. Initial symptoms were unsteady gait and dementia developing several weeks or months after carmofur had been started. Symptoms increased gradually even after stopping the drug. Severe encephalopathy with confusion, delirium or coma appeared frequently. Symptoms were usually reversible but death occasionally occurred. The EEG showed marked slowing. Computed tomography of the brains of severely intoxicated patients showed marked hypodensity of the entire cerebral white matter. Carmofur must be discontinued immediately if any psychomotor symptoms develop.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Gan. 1976 Oct;67(5):725-31 - PubMed
    1. N Engl J Med. 1974 Jun 11;291(2):75-81 - PubMed
    1. Neurology. 1964 Oct;14:961-7 - PubMed
    1. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1977 Apr;1(2):216-21 - PubMed
    1. Acta Neuropathol. 1984;63(4):334-43 - PubMed