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Bendamustine associated with irreversible ascending paralysis

Ashraf Alhafez1, Omar S Aljitawi, Tara L Lin

  • 1Internal Medicine Department, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.

Case Reports in Hematology
|March 28, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Bendamustine, an alkylating agent for lymphoproliferative disorders, can cause neurotoxicity. This report details the first known case of irreversible ascending paralysis linked to bendamustine treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Bendamustine is an alkylating agent used to treat lymphoproliferative disorders.
  • Adverse effects of bendamustine are documented, including rare instances of reversible neurotoxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the first case of irreversible ascending paralysis associated with bendamustine therapy.
  • To highlight a previously undocumented severe neurological adverse effect of bendamustine.

Main Methods:

  • Case report detailing a patient's clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and treatment course.
  • Review of existing literature on bendamustine-associated neurotoxicity.

Main Results:

  • The patient developed irreversible ascending paralysis following bendamustine administration.
  • This represents a novel and severe neurological complication of bendamustine treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Bendamustine can cause irreversible ascending paralysis, a serious neurological adverse effect.
  • Clinicians should be vigilant for neurological complications in patients treated with bendamustine.

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