Literature case analysis of myelopathy induced by intrathecal chemotherapy of methotrexate and/or cytarabine
10.3760/cma.j.cn114015-20240722-00614
- VernacularTitle:甲氨蝶呤和/或阿糖胞苷鞘内化疗致脊髓病文献病例分析
- Author:
Weiwei ZHAO
1
;
Liling ZHAO
1
;
Ruohan XIE
1
Author Information
1. 河南省胸科医院，郑州大学附属胸科医院药学部，郑州 450003
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Chemotherapy, cancer, regional perfusion;
Injections, spinal;
Methotrexate;
Cytarabine;
Spinal cord diseases;
Intrathecal injections;
Adverse drug reactions
- From:
Adverse Drug Reactions Journal
2025;27(2):91-98
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To understand the clinical characteristics of myelopathy induced by intrathecal chemotherapy of methotrexate (MTX) and/or cytarabine (Ara-C).Methods:Relevant databases at home and abroad (up to February 18, 2024) were searched and case reports of myelopathy induced by intrathecal chemotherapy of MTX and/or Ara-C were collected. The patients′ general situation (gender, age, primary disease, etc.), use of MTX and/or Ara-C, previous radiotherapy, and occurrence time, clinical manifestations, spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results, cerebrospinal fluid test results, treatments and outcomes of myelopathy were extracted and analyzed descriptively and statistically.Results:A total of 75 articles were enrolled, involving 104 patients, with 62 males, 35 females, and 7 unknown genders. Their ages ranged from 1 to 74 years, with a median age of 26 years. The primary diseases included hematological malignancy in 101 cases, and other solid tumors in 3 cases. Before the occurrence of myelopathy, 42 cases had central nervous system tumor infiltration. Seventy-three patients received intrathecal injection of MTX combined with Ara-C, 21 patients received single MTX therapy, 10 patients received single Ara-C therapy. The number of intrathecal injections ranged from 1 to 62, with a median of 5 injections. Twenty-nine patients had received radiotherapy before. When myelopathy occurred, the cumulative dose of MTX was 7.5-480.0 mg, with a median cumulative dose of 60.0 mg; the cumulative dose of Ara-C was 15-1 599 mg, with a median cumulative dose of 280 mg. The onset time of myelopathy was from immediately to 365 days after the last intrathecal injection, with a median time of 2 days. The main clinical manifestations were weakness of both lower limbs, urinary and fecal incontinence or retention, paresthesia, and paraplegia, etc. Fifty-three patients had spinal abnormality in MRI examination, 32 had abnormal cerebrospinal fluid protein quantity, intrathecal basic protein, or homocysteine. After the diagnosis of myelopathy, 86 patients were treated with drugs, radiotherapy, plasma exchange, and cerebrospinal fluid exchange, and 18 patients had no record of treatment situation. Therapeutic agents included glucocorticoids, B vitamins, folic acid, immunoglobulin, leucovorin, S-adenosylmethionine, and dextromethorphan. Of the 104 patients, 20 achieved complete remission, with a median remission time of 30 hours; 25 experienced partial remission, with a median duration of 120 days; 32 showed no significant improvement; 26 died; one patient′s prognosis and outcome were unknown.Conclusions:The median occurrence time of myelopathy induced by intrathecal injection of MTX and/or Ara-C is 2 days. The main clinical manifestations are bilateral lower extremity weakness, urinary and bowel incontinence or retention, paresthesia, and paraplegia, etc. Abnormal spinal in MRI examination, quantitative cerebrospinal fluid protein, intrathecal basic protein occurred in some patients. Intrathecal injection should be stopped immediately after diagnosis of myelopathy, and the treatments such as drug and cerebrospinal fluid replacement should be given. The clinical outcome of myelopathy induced by intrathecal MTX and/or Ara-C was poor.
