[Neurotoxicity of formyl leurosine. An experimental and clinical study (author's transl)]

Leg paralysis and wallerian degeneration of sciatic nerve fibres have been produced in rats by intraneural injection of 0.5, 1 or 5 microgram of vincristine (VCR) or formyl leurosine (FLR) dissolved in 5 microliter of saline. Nerve lesions were dose-related, and were similar for equal concentrations of the two drugs. Six patients received one to three 5-day courses of FLR. The total dose of FLR administered ranged from 15 to 131 mg (mean 83 mg). Clinical signs of peripheral neuropathy were absent in four patients, and limited to orthostatic hypotension in one case and transient depression of reflexes in another. Motor conduction velocities measured in four peripheral nerves, and muscle evoked potentials remained unchanged throughout the treatment in all patients.