This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Korinthenberg, R. Articles by Niemeyer, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Korinthenberg, R. Articles by Niemeyer, C. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB LEUCOVORIN METHOTREXATE Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Central Nervous System Prophylaxis With High-Dose Methotrexate Does Not Give Rise to Significant Electroencephalographic Changes in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscular Disorders, rudokori{at}kikli.ukl.uni-freiburg.de

Annette Schneider, MD

Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscular Disorders

Charlotte Niemeyer, MD

Department of Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany

Acute, subacute, and chronic neurologic complications have been reported in children treated with high-dose methotrexate for various malignant diseases. It was the aim of this study to monitor central nervous system treatment with high-dose methotrexate in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia by serial electroencephalographic (EEG) examinations. Electroencephalographic examinations with quantitative computed analysis were performed in 21 children before and on the third day after each of four high-dose methotrexate infusions with leucovorin rescue according to protocol M of trial ALL-BFM 90 of the German Society for Pædiatric Haematology and Oncology. Six patients with a medium risk of relapse also received L-asparaginase. In the cohort treated with methotrexate solely, no statistically significant changes of the quantitative EEG parameters could be demonstrated. Only two children with delayed serum methotrexate clearance showed reversible diffuse EEG slowing of a slight to moderate degree. In the group with additional L-asparaginase treatment, slight transient EEG slowing also occurred. Our findings indicate that in patients with a normal methotrexate clearance during central nervous system treatment with high-dose methotrexate according to trial BFM-ALL 90, usually no subacute or cumulative EEG changes have to be expected. If neurologic or psychiatric symptoms or EEG slowing occur, delayed methotrexate clearance must be suspected. (J Child Neurol 2002;17:409-412).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 17, No. 6, 409-412 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/088307380201700602


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. M. Moore Advancing Biobehavioral Research in Childhood Cancer Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, May 1, 2004; 21(3): 128 - 131. [Abstract] [PDF]