Table 1.
Chemotherapy in pediatric cancer associated with cognitive dysfunction*
| Chemotherapy | Acute / subacute CNS effects | Potential long-term CNS effects |
|---|---|---|
| Methotrexate (systemic or intrathecal) |
Seizures Leukoencephalopathy Myelopathy Aseptic meningitis |
Attention deficits Processing speed deficits Seizures |
| Cytosine arabinoside | Cerebellar ataxia Aseptic meningitis Myelopathy Meningismus |
Cognitive deficits Hemiparesis |
| AraG (Compound 506) | Somnolence Seizures |
Unknown |
| Steroids | Sleep disturbance Mood/behavioral disorder PRES Transient psychosis |
Cognitive deficits |
| 5FU | Cerebellar ataxia | Unknown |
| Ifosfamide | Acute encephalopathy Hallucinations/delirium Aseptic meningitis Cranial nerve palsy Movement disorder Seizure |
Cognitive deficits |
| Asparaginase | Thrombotic stroke Encephalopathy |
Unknown |
| Cyclosporine | Leukoencephalopathy | Unknown |
| Cisplatin | Ototoxicity Peripheral neuropathy |
Sensorineural hearing loss |
| Vincristine | Peripheral neuropathy Autonomic/cranial Neuropathy |
Peripheral neuropathy |
| Angiogenesis inhibitors | Hypertension Stroke/bleeding |
Unknown |
* This table is not intended to be comprehensive. Novel targeted agents more recently introduced into practice have not been included. CNS = central nervous system; PRES = posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.