Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Chemotherapy-induced Vascular Toxicity - Real-time In vivo Imaging of Vessel Impairment
Published on: January 7, 2015
Vasospasm is a significant factor in cyclosporine-induced neurotoxicity: case report
Hilde M H Braakman1, Jan Lodder, Alida A Postma
1Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands. h.braakman@mumc.nl
Background:
The aetiology of central nervous system lesions observed in cerebral cyclosporine neurotoxicity remains controversial.
Case Presentation:
We report a 48-year-old woman with a non-severe aplastic anaemia who presented with stroke-like episodes while on cyclosporine treatment.Transcranial Doppler ultrasound revealed severely elevated flow velocities in several cerebral vessels, consistent with vasospasm. Immediately after reducing the cyclosporine dose, the stroke-like episodes disappeared. Only after cyclosporine withdrawal the transcranial Doppler ultrasound abnormalities fully resolved.
Conclusions:
This case demonstrates a significant role of vasospasm in the pathway of cyclosporine-induced neurotoxicity. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is an effective tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of cyclosporine-induced vasospasm.
Related Concept Videos
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions
Cytotoxic Edema: Pathophysiology
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions
Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions
Drug Toxicity: Overview
