Axitinib-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a patient with renal cell carcinoma

Article information

J Neurocrit Care. 2022;15(2):146-147
Publication date (electronic) : 2022 December 23
doi : https://doi.org/10.18700/jnc.220080
Department of Neurology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Corresponding author: Jinseok Park Department of Neurology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222-1 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea Tel: +82-2-2290-8378, Fax: +82-2-2290-8370, E-mail: jinspark@hanyang.ac.kr
Received 2022 October 18; Revised 2022 November 17; Accepted 2022 November 21.

A 51-year-old male patient presented with a generalized tonic-clonic type seizure. He had a history of renal cell carcinoma and had received axitinib 2 weeks before this seizure event due to the unresponsiveness to the previous chemotherapeutics. He did not experience any neurologic symptoms previously. His vital rhythm showed elevated blood pressure and tachycardia. He became deeply drowsy soon after the seizure attack, with no definite lateralizing or localizing signs.

Electroencephalogram showed no epileptiform discharges. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed extensive increased signal changes in the bilateral hemispheres and cerebellum, suggestive of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) (Fig. 1). Axitinib was withdrawn and antiseizure medication was given. His mental status did not recover after that, possibly because of the extensive parenchymal lesions and aggravating medical condition. The patient expired 9 days later due to tumor progression and complications including aspiration pneumonia and acute kidney injury.

Fig. 1.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging scans performed 2 hours after the seizure. (A) Diffusion-weighted images did not show any remarkable findings. (B) Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images showed extensive multifocal high signal change at bilateral cerebral cortex, subcortical white matter, bilateral medial thalamus, pons and cerebellum.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted compounds including axitinib are reported to be associated with PRES [1-3]. Administration of anti-VEGF agents is commonly complicated by hypertension, which may lead to neuro-vascular toxicities resulting in PRES [2,3]. This first-reported case of axitinib-induced PRES in Korea indicates that physicians should be aware of the possible neurologic complications of certain chemotherapeutic agents.

Notes

Ethics statement

This case was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Hanyang University Hospital (No. 2022-10-013). The need for informed consent from a patient was waived by the Board.

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: WS, JP. Data curation: ES, HK. Formal analysis: ES, HK. Methodology: JP. Project administration: JP. Visualization: ES. Writing–original draft: ES, HK. Writing–review & editing: JP.

References

1. Moghaddam AS, Ramaiah G, Jumaa M, Zaidi S. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) secondary to use of axitinib in renal cell cancer (P4. 012). Neurology 2018;90(15 Suppl):P4.012.
2. Levy A, Benmoussa L, Ammari S, Albiges L, Escudier B. Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome induced by axitinib. Clin Genitourin Cancer 2014;12:e33–4.
3. Tlemsani C, Mir O, Boudou-Rouquette P, Huillard O, Maley K, Ropert S, et al. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome induced by anti-VEGF agents. Target Oncol 2011;6:253–8.

Article information Continued

Fig. 1.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging scans performed 2 hours after the seizure. (A) Diffusion-weighted images did not show any remarkable findings. (B) Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images showed extensive multifocal high signal change at bilateral cerebral cortex, subcortical white matter, bilateral medial thalamus, pons and cerebellum.