A case of astrocytoma with severe leucocytopenia and thrombocytopenia after ACNU administration was reported.
A 50-years-old woman was first seen at the Department of Neurological Surgery, Sagamihara National Hospital on June 27, 1980, with a complaint of convulsive seizure. Neurological examination showed dyscalculia and hyperactive DTR on the right side. Routine blood studies on admission were normal. The leucocyte count and thrombocyte count were 4, 700/mm
3 and 204, 000/mm
3 respectively. Both CT scan and carotid angiogram showed a mass lesion in the left f ronto-temporal region.
On July 9, 1980, partial removal of the lesion was performed. Histological diagnosis of the excised specimens was grade II astrocytoma. On July 22, 1980, radiation therapy was initiated with combined use of ACNU 2mg/kg (total 100mg) i. v.. ACNU in a dose of 100mg was administered repeatedly after 14 days. On the 16th day after initial administration of ACNU, radiation therapy was interrupted because of leucocytopenia (leucocyte count;3, 200/mm
3). Total dose of irradiation was 1, 940 rad. The leucocyte count and the platelet count dropped from 4, 700/mm
3 to 500/mm
3 on the 38th day and from 204, 000/mm
3 to 15, 000/mm
3 on the 43rd day, respectively, after initial administration of ACNU. Leucocyte and platelet recovered within 2 weeks after reaching their nadir. However, multiple subcutaneous abscess and intramuscular abscess of the both upper limbs developed.
Recent neurological examination and CT scan on January, 1982, showed no evidence of recurrence of the lesion. However, her upper limbs developed severe contraction because of intramuscular absess and was severely incapacitated.
The usual dose regimens of ACNU in phase II study were 2 to 4mg/kg i. v. every 6 to 8 weeks or 2mg/kg i. v. once a week for 2 to 4 successive weeks. The mean time to appearance of nadir platelet and nadir leucocyte was reported to be about 4 to 5 and 5 to 6 weeks, respectively, after ACNU administration. And it was also reported that the mean nadir of leucocyte was 1 to 2 weeks behind the mean nadir of thrombocyte.
From our experience, we emphasized that the repeated administration of ACNU should be made at about 6 weeks intervals in terms of hematological side effects. One of the different features of the hematological side effects in the present case, in comparison with the reported cases, was the nadir of leucocyte followed by the nadir of thrombocyte.
View full abstract