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neurotoxicity
Toxic to nerves or the nervous system. Individuals with certain disorders may be especially vulnerable to neurotoxic agents.
Etiology:
Neurotoxic agents include:
1) 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)
2) heavy metals
- lead
- mercury
3) industrial & cleaning solvents
Clinical manifestations:
1) limb weakness or numbness
2) loss of memory
3) visual impairment
4) cognitive impairment
5) headache
6) behavioral disorder
7) sexual dysfunction
Management:
1) eliminate or reduce exposure to the toxic substance
2) symptomatic & supportive therapy
3) prognosis
a) depends upon the length & degree of exposure & severity of neurological injury
b) complete recovery -> residual deficits -> death
Related
nervous system
Specific
immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS)
General
toxicity; poisoning; overdose
References
- NINDS Neurotoxicity Information Page
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/all-disorders/neurotoxicity-information-page