Kr. Imrie et al., PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY FOLLOWING HIGH-DOSE ETOPOSIDE AND AUTOLOGOUS BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION, Bone marrow transplantation, 13(1), 1994, pp. 77-79
We investigated the incidence of peripheral neuropathy in 142 consecut
ive patients receiving high-dose etoposide between August 1988 and Dec
ember 1991. A retrospective chart review was conducted. Six patients w
ith hematologic malignancies presented with a new sensory polyneuropat
hy after receiving an intensive therapy regimen consisting of etoposid
e 60 mg/kg iv and melphalan 140-160 mg/m(2) iv followed by autologous
bone marrow transplantation. Neurologic symptoms began 2-8 weeks after
transplant, were grade 2-3 in severity and pursued a chronic course w
ith slow improvement over months. Electromyographic studies in three o
f the patients tested confirmed distal sensory polyneuropathy. All 6 p
atients had previously received vincristine 1-60 months prior to autot
ransplant. We conclude that peripheral neuropathy of moderate severity
is a potential complication of high-dose etoposide therapy but appear
s to be self-limited.