Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Isolation and Analysis of Brain-sequestered Leukocytes from Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected Mice
12:48

Isolation and Analysis of Brain-sequestered Leukocytes from Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected Mice

Published on: January 2, 2013

[A case of FK 506-induced leukoencephalopathy]

Yumi Okoshi1, Masayuki Itoh, Yuri Okimoto

  • 1Department of Hematology and Oncology, Chiba Children's Hospital.

No to Shinkei = Brain and Nerve
|March 1, 2002
PubMed

Insights

A 15-year-old boy developed leukoencephalopathy after FK 506 treatment for graft versus host disease. Vascular damage, including calcification, was implicated in this FK 506-induced neurological condition.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Hematology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • FK 506 (tacrolimus) is an immunosuppressant used to prevent graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplantation.
  • Acute myelomonocytic leukemia is a type of blood cancer.
  • Leukoencephalopathy is a disease of the white matter of the brain.

Observation:

  • A 15-year-old boy with acute myelomonocytic leukemia developed seizures and altered consciousness four weeks after starting FK 506 for graft-versus-host disease.
  • High serum FK 506 levels (27.5 ng/ml) were detected.
  • Brain MRI revealed white matter lesions in the frontal and parietal lobes.

Findings:

  • Neuropathological examination showed myelin and axonal destruction in the cerebral white matter, correlating with MRI findings.
  • Calcification and mineralization of small blood vessels in the cortex and white matter were observed.
  • Osteopontin immunoreactivity in small vessel endothelial cells suggested vascular involvement.

Implications:

  • These findings suggest that vascular damage plays a role in FK 506-induced leukoencephalopathy.
  • This case highlights the potential neurotoxicity of FK 506, particularly at high serum concentrations.
  • Understanding the mechanism of FK 506 neurotoxicity is crucial for managing patients undergoing transplantation.

More Related Videos

Pre-clinical Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Acute Leukemia10:49

Pre-clinical Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Acute Leukemia

Published on: September 19, 2013

An In Vitro Model for the Study of Cellular Pathophysiology in Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy07:45

An In Vitro Model for the Study of Cellular Pathophysiology in Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy

Published on: October 21, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions01:16

Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions

Idiosyncratic drug reactions represent abnormal chemical responses that vary significantly among individuals, ranging from extreme sensitivity to low doses to insensitivity to high doses. These reactions often occur due to the drug's covalent binding with serum proteins, forming a foreign hapten that triggers an immunotoxicological response. The variability in drug reactions has a strong pharmacogenetic foundation, with genetic differences crucial in how individuals metabolize drugs. For...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Hepatic Encephalopathy01:29

Hepatic Encephalopathy

DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...