Skip to main content
Log in

Cisplatin induced neuropathy: Central, peripheral and autonomic nerve involvement

  • Clinical Study
  • Published:
Journal of Neuro-Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A prospective study was performed in patients treated with cisplatin to evaluate the occurrence and degree of central, peripheral and autonomic neuropathy and to determine the most accurate method to study this neuropathy. Twelve patients were examined before, during and after treatment. Evaluation included neurologic examination, conventional nerve conduction studies of the median and peroneal nerves and short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSER) after median and tibial nerve stimulation. Valsalva maneuvers before and during treatment were performed in 11 patients. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy paralleled clinical signs. Conventional nerve conduction studies did not seem to be more accurate than clinical examination in determining peripheral neuropathy. SSER appeared to be the most sensitive method for the detection of peripheral nerve impairment. A slowing of central conduction velocity occurred after cumulative doses of 200–400 mg/m2 as measured by SSER. In two patients also some involvement of the autonomic nerves was suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rozencweig M, Von Hoff DD, Slavik M, Muggia FM: Cisdiamminedichloroplatinum (II). A new anticancer drug. Ann Int Medicine 86: 803–812, 1977

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cisplatin (editorial): Lancet 1: 374–375, 1982

  3. Kedar A, Cohen ME, Freeman AL: Peripheral neuropathy as a complication of cisdichlorodiammineplatinum (II) treatment: A case report. Cancer Treat Rep 62: 819–821, 1978

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Thompson SW, Davis LAE, Kornfeld M, Hilgers RD, Standefer JC: Cisplatin neuropathy: clinical, electrophysiologic, morphologic and toxicologic studies. Cancer 54: 1269–1275, 1984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hadley D, Herr HW: Peripheral neuropathy associated with cisdichlorodiammineplatinum (II) treatment. Cancer 44: 2026–2028, 1979

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Roelofs RJ, Hrushesky W, Rogin J, Rosenberg L: Peripheral sensory neuropathy and cisplatin chemotherapy. Neurology 34: 934–938, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ongerboer de Visser BW, Tiessens G: Polyneuropathy induced by cisplatin. Prog exp Tumor Res 29: 190–196, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Mollman JE, Hogan WM, Glover DJ, McCluskey LF: Unusual presentation of cis-platinum neuropathy. Neurology 38:488–490, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Eeles R, Tait DM, Peckham MJ: Lhermitte's signs as a complication of cisplatin-containing chemotherapy for testicular cancer. Cancer Treat Rep 70: 905–907, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dewar J, Lunt H, Abernethy DA, Dady P, Haas LF: Cisplatin neuropathy with Lhermitte's sign. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 49: 96–99, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Walther PJ, Rosbitch E, Bullard DE: The development of Lhermitte's sign during cisplatin chemotherapy. Cancer 60: 2170–2172, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gautier-Smith PC: Lhermitte's sign in subacute combined degenetation of the cord. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 36:861–863, 1972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Rosenfeld CS, Broder LE: Cisplatin-induced autonomic neuropathy. Cancer Treat Rep 68: 659–660, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Cohen SC, Mollman JE: Cisplatin-induced gestric paresis. J Neurol Oncol 5: 237–240, 1987

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Daugaard GK, Petrera J, Trojaburg W: Electrophysiological study of the peripheral and central neurotoxic effect of cis-platin. Acta Neurol Scand 76: 86–93, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ludin HP: Electromyography in Practice. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cho ES: Toxic effects of adriamycin in the ganglia of the peripheral nervous system: a neuropathological study. J Neuropath Exp Neurol 36: 907–915, 1977

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kaplan RS, Wiernik PH: Neurotoxicity of antineoplastic drugs. Sem Oncol 9: 103–130, 1982

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Levin AB: A simple test of cardiac function based upon the heart rate changes induced by the Valsalva maneuver. Am J Cardiol 18: 90–99, 1966

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hansen SW: Autonomic neuropathy after treatment with cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin for germ cell cancer. Br Med J 300: 511–512, 1990

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Cowan JD, Kies MS, Roth JL, Joyce RP: Nerve conduction studies in patients treated with cis-diamminedochloroplatinum (II): a preliminary report. Cancer Treat Rep 64: 1119–1122, 1980

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Riggs JF, Ashraf M, Snyder RD, Gurmann L: Prospective nerve conduction studies in cisplatin therapy. Ann Neurol 23: 92–94, 1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Clark AW, Parhad IM, Griffin JW, Price DL: Neurotoxicity pf cisplatinum: pathology of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neurology 30: 429, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  24. Walsh TJ, Clark AW, Parhad IM, Green WR: Neurotoxix effects of cisplatin therapy. Arch Neurol 39: 719–720, 1982

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Von Hoff DD, Reichert CM, Cuneo R, Reddick R, Callagher M, Rozencweig M: Demyelination of peripheral nerves associated with cis-diamminedochloroplatinum (II) (DDP) therapy. Proc Am Ass Cancer Res 20: 91, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  26. Tomiwa K, Nolan C, Cavanagh JB: The effects of cisplatin on rat spintal ganglia. A study by light and electron microscopy and by morphometry. Acta Neuropathol 69: 295–308, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Griffin JW, Watson DF: Axonal transport in neurological disease. Ann Neurol 23: 3–13, 1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Mollman JE, Glover DJ, Hogan WM, Furman RE: Cisplatin neuropathy. Risk factors, prognosis and protection by protection by WR-2721. Cancer 61: 2192–2195, 1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Gerritsen van der Hoop R, Vecht CJ, van der Burg MEL, Elderson A, Boogerd W, Heimans JJ, Vries EP, van Houwelingen JC, Jennekens FGI, Gispen WH, Neyt JP: Prevention of cisplatin neurotoxicity with an ACTH (4–9) analogue in patients with ovarian cancer. N Eng J Med 322: 89–94, 1990

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Boogerd, W., ten Bokkel Huinink, W.W., Dalesio, O. et al. Cisplatin induced neuropathy: Central, peripheral and autonomic nerve involvement. J Neuro-Oncol 9, 255–263 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02341156

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02341156

Key words

Navigation