Sticking to the script: A curious case of confusion in an ESRD patient

A 60-year-old male Dialysis patient presented with altered mental status and Hypertensive Urgency. He had a significant lesion noted on his glans penis. He was treated for infection and hypertension with expectant management, without significant improvement in his mental acuity. Laboratory and radiologic workup were unrevealing for the etiology. Upon detailed review it was noted he had recently been given Acyclovir for a presumed Herpes Simplex Virus infection. He had been prescribed what is considered correct dosing for an ESRD patient. An Acyclovir level was obtained and urgent Dialysis was undertaken, presuming Acyclovir neurotoxicity may be the culprit. Initially no improvement was noted and a 2nd level and hemodialysis were undertaken. This case and review of the literature will highlight key aspects of acyclovir neurotoxicity in ESRD patients, including how to diagnose and treat, which laboratory tests to obtain and what one can expect from various dialysis modalities. We will also reveal how to dose Acyclovir to avoid toxicity and other key elements of the drug.