Cyclosporin A and imipenem associated seizure activity in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation patients

Imipenem is an antibiotic used with cilastatin in the bone marrow transplan t (BMT) setting. Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an immunosuppressive agent. Seizure s can be seen with both imipenem/cilastatin and CsA, Our hypothesis for stu dy was that CNS toxicity and seizures are increased by the concomitant admi nistration of CsA and imipenem/cilastatin. Between December of 1989 and 199 6, all of the 166 stem cell BMTs performed at Mount Sinai Hospital in New Y ork were evaluated for this study. Three groups were studied: 77 patients r eceived CsA alone (Group 1); 89 patients received imipenem/cilastatin, and of these, 45 received concomitant CsA (Group 2); and 44 patients who underw ent autologous BMT received imipenem/cilastatin only (Group 3), We observed a total of 5 seizure episodes. There were no statistical differences in fr equency between the groups. Adverse effects may be difficult to relate to a particular drug, especially for patients on multidrug regimens but the use of imipenem/cilastatin and CsA did not cause a significant rise in the fre quency of seizures when compared to CsA alone.