Anticoagulation for radiation-induced neurotoxicity revisited

J Neurooncol. 2008 Dec;90(3):357-62. doi: 10.1007/s11060-008-9674-6. Epub 2008 Aug 22.

Abstract

No effective treatment for delayed radiation-induced neurotoxicity has been established. Its natural course is highly variable, but spontaneous recovery has been well documented. Here we report our experience with therapeutic anticoagulation in patients with cerebral lesions (n = 3), cranial nerve lesions (n = 1) or myelopathy (n = 4) attributed to irradiation. Two of three patients with cerebral lesions and the patient with cranial nerve lesions showed a minor improvement of clinical symptoms. In contrast, none of the patients with radiation myelopathy improved. No patient suffered hemorrhage or other adverse effects of anticoagulation. Overall, anticoagulation therapy demonstrates only modest activity for delayed radiation-induced neurotoxicity in this small case series.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / radiation effects
  • Brain Neoplasms / classification
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / drug therapy*
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / etiology*
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / pathology
  • Radiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spinal Cord / drug effects
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Spinal Cord / radiation effects
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / drug therapy
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / etiology

Substances

  • Anticoagulants