Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy
10:10

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

Published on: October 18, 2011

Stevens-Johnson syndrome in children receiving phenobarbital therapy and cranial radiotherapy

Antonio Ruggiero1, Paola Sabrina Buonuomo, Palma Maurizi

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Pediatric Oncology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy.

Journal of Neuro-Oncology
|June 26, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a severe skin reaction, occurred in two pediatric brain tumor patients. Concurrent cranial irradiation and phenobarbital anticonvulsant therapy may trigger SJS in these cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe, potentially life-threatening mucocutaneous reaction.
  • It is frequently an adverse drug reaction, but other triggers are possible.
  • Brain tumors require complex treatment regimens, including radiation and medication.

Observation:

  • Two pediatric patients with brain tumors developed SJS.
  • These patients were undergoing concurrent cranial irradiation and phenobarbital anticonvulsant therapy.
  • The onset of SJS coincided with these treatments.

Findings:

  • The co-administration of cranial irradiation and phenobarbital may be associated with the development of SJS in children with brain tumors.
  • This suggests a potential interaction or synergistic effect between these therapies.
  • Further investigation is warranted to confirm this association.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should be vigilant for SJS symptoms in pediatric brain tumor patients receiving combined radiation and phenobarbital.
  • Consideration of alternative anticonvulsants or treatment modifications may be necessary.
  • This finding highlights the importance of monitoring for severe cutaneous reactions during complex oncological treatments.

More Related Videos

Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies08:34

Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies

Published on: February 6, 2019

Stem Cell Transplantation Strategies for the Restoration of Cognitive Dysfunction Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy11:24

Stem Cell Transplantation Strategies for the Restoration of Cognitive Dysfunction Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

Published on: October 18, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Biological Effects of Radiation02:59

Biological Effects of Radiation

All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they produce ions...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
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...
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors01:24

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...