Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
09:36
Primary Cultures of Rat Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Use in the Study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Published on: June 23, 2022
Neuralgic amyotrophy associated with antibiotic therapy
Kody Finstad1, Jesus Ramon Guajardo, Caryn Scoville
1Department of Child Health, University Hospital and Clinics, Columbia, MO, USA.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|August 7, 2008
Summary
This case report details neuralgic amyotrophy in a cystic fibrosis patient, likely triggered by vancomycin, tobramycin, and piperacillin/tazobactam antibiotics. Awareness of this rare adverse drug reaction is crucial for clinicians.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) exacerbations often require aggressive antibiotic treatment.
- Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is a rare neurological condition characterized by sudden onset of shoulder pain and muscle weakness.
Observation:
- A 22-year-old male with CF experienced severe bilateral shoulder pain and upper extremity dysfunction after receiving intravenous vancomycin, tobramycin, and piperacillin/tazobactam.
- Symptoms recurred rapidly and were more severe upon re-exposure to the same antibiotic regimen.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of NA potentially triggered by vancomycin, tobramycin, and piperacillin/tazobactam in a CF patient.
- The Naranjo probability scale indicated a highly probable link between the antibiotic therapy and the development of NA.
- The exact causative antibiotic (vancomycin, tobramycin, or piperacillin/tazobactam) could not be definitively identified.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider NA as a potential adverse drug reaction in patients presenting with complex neurological symptoms during treatment with these specific antibiotics, particularly vancomycin.
- This case highlights the importance of vigilant monitoring for rare neurological side effects of commonly used antibiotics in complex patient populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment
Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission disorder characterized by weakness and increased fatigability of skeletal muscles. It is an autoimmune disease affecting approximately one in 2000 people, where antibodies against the α1 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are produced.
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which leads...
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which leads...
01:22Botulism
Botulism is a life-threatening neuroparalytic condition caused by botulinum neurotoxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, a Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobe.In adults, the toxin enters the body in different ways: in foodborne botulism, the preformed toxin is absorbed in the intestine. In wound botulism, spores grow in injured tissue and release the toxin into the blood. Infant botulism differs mechanistically from adult forms. In infants, botulism commonly...
01:28Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
01:22Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology
The disease process of myasthenia gravis begins at the neuromuscular junction, where antibodies attack key proteins needed for muscle activation. This immune reaction weakens signal transmission, leading to the characteristic muscle fatigue and weakness that define the condition.Immune-Mediated DamageIn most individuals, antibodies target acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) on the postsynaptic membrane of muscle cells. By blocking acetylcholine binding, these antibodies prevent the nerve signal...
01:15Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune condition affecting neuromuscular transmission, causing generalized weakness in skeletal muscles. Initial diagnoses rely on patients' signs, symptoms, and medical history. The challenge lies in distinguishing myasthenia from other muscular dystrophies. An important diagnostic feature is the significant improvement of symptoms after administering anticholinesterase inhibitors.
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...
01:25Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...