Memory loss during lenalidomide treatment: a report on two cases

There are many reports of cognitive dysfunction in patients receiving chemotherapy or targeted therapies. Many antineoplastic agents may be involved in the condition also known as "chemo brain" or "chemo fog". Two male patients (aged 41 and 70) with multiple myeloma developed sev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC pharmacology & toxicology 2013-08, Vol.14 (1), p.41-41, Article 41
Main Authors: Rollin-Sillaire, Adeline, Delbeuck, Xavier, Pollet, Marianne, Mackowiak, Marie-Anne, Lenfant, Pierre, Noel, Marie-Pierre, Facon, Thierry, Leleu, Xavier, Pasquier, Florence, Le Rhun, Emilie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of daily living
Adult
Aged
Angiogenesis Inhibitors - adverse effects
Cancer
Care and treatment
Case Report
Chemotherapy
Complications and side effects
Humans
Immunologic Factors - adverse effects
Male
Memory Disorders - chemically induced
Multiple myeloma
Multiple Myeloma - diagnostic imaging
Multiple Myeloma - drug therapy
Thalidomide - adverse effects
Thalidomide - analogs & derivatives
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
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Summary:There are many reports of cognitive dysfunction in patients receiving chemotherapy or targeted therapies. Many antineoplastic agents may be involved in the condition also known as "chemo brain" or "chemo fog". Two male patients (aged 41 and 70) with multiple myeloma developed severe, rapidly progressing cognitive impairment (mostly involving episodic memory) and loss of independence in activities of daily living during lenalidomide-based treatment. On withdrawal of the drug, one patient recovered normal cognitive function and independence in activities of daily living, whereas mild cognitive impairment persisted in the other patient. The Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale score was 6 out of 13 for the first patient and 5 out of 13 for the second, suggesting a probable causal relationship between the adverse event and lenalidomide administration. Lenalidomide may induce particular cognitive disorders (notably episodic memory impairments) in some patients. The drug's putative neurotoxicity is probably promoted by specific risk factors (such as previous chemotherapy, prior mild cognitive impairment, age and the presence of cerebrovascular lesions).
ISSN:2050-6511
2050-6511
DOI:10.1186/2050-6511-14-41