Motor "freezing" with oxaliplatin

Abstract

Introduction: We report the case of a patient who experienced severe neurological symptoms collectively characterized as being "frozen" following a second oxaliplatin infusion.

Case report: A 52-year-old woman with metastatic colon cancer developed severe motor slowing, delayed and incomplete grip and dorsiflexion, speech difficulty, visual impairment, leg cramping and tingling after her second infusion of oxaliplatin. She was transferred from the infusion center to the emergency room and admitted to the hospital for further evaluation. Motor, verbal, and ocular symptoms gradually resolved within 24 hours, and she was discharged home without sequela.Management and outcome: Oxaliplatin dose was subsequently lowered and infusion time increased, and she tolerated future treatments without motor, verbal, or ocular disturbance.

Discussion: In this case report, we describe a rare form of neurological toxicity involving severe motor slowing, slurred speech, and blurry vision secondary to oxaliplatin.

Keywords: Oxaliplatin; eloxatin; oxalatin; toxicity.