Delay of the Blink Reflex in Patients Receiving Platinum-Analogue Chemotherapy

To investigate the presence of cranial neuropathy in patients with platinum-analogue chemotherapy using electrodiagnostic evaluations.

Thirty-nine patients whose chemotherapy was completed within a month and 40 control subjects were enrolled in the study. Electrodiagnostic evaluation was performed using sensory and motor nerve conduction studies and blink reflex studies, in addition to the two-point discrimination test.

The chemotherapy group had significantly longer latencies of bilateral R1 responses (left p<0.001; right p<0.001) and greater distance in two-point discrimination (p<0.001) compared to the control group. In the subgroup with peripheral polyneuropathy, the left R1 (p=0.01), both R2i (left p=0.02; right p=0.03) and the left R2c (p=0.02) were prolonged relative to those without the polyneuropathy, and both R1 (left p<0.001; right p<0.001), R2i (left p=0.01; right p=0.03), and the left R2c (p=0.01) were prolonged relative to the controls. On the other hand, the subgroup without the polyneuropathy showed only prolongation of both R1 (left p=0.006; right p<0.001) relative to the controls.

In the present study, comparison of blink reflex and two-point discrimination showed the likelihood of subclinical cranial neuropathy following platinum-analogue chemotherapy. Cranial neuropathy caused by platinum agents was more profound in patients with peripheral polyneuropathy and may be dependent on the cumulative dose of the drug. The blink reflex may be of value in detecting subclinical cranial neuropathy in patients undergoing platinum-analogue chemotherapy.