Oxaliplatin-Induced Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy in a Patient with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Case Report

Abstract

Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is widely used to treat advanced cancer. Oxaliplatin-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy is rarely reported. Here, we report a case of oxaliplatin-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy occurring after gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin (GEMOX) chemotherapy in a patient with pancreatic cancer. A 76-year-old man received GEMOX regimen as first-line treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma with peritoneal dissemination. GEMOX consists of gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m²) and oxaliplatin (100 mg/m²) on day 1, repeated every 2 weeks. The second cycle of GEMOX was administered as planned. However, he appeared to have difficulties with daily activities. Two days later, he visited the emergency room complaining of drowsiness. On examination, the patient had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 14 (E4V4M6), and asterixis was not present. Blood examination revealed a serum ammonia level of 202 µg/dL. The levels of serum hepatic enzymes were only mildly elevated, and the hemoglobin level was typical for this patient. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, lumbar puncture test, and blood culture showed no abnormality. Based on these results, he was diagnosed with oxaliplatin-induced hyperammonemia. One day after hospitalization, GCS score had significantly decreased to 6 (E1V1M4). His consciousness disorder improved after administration of a nutritional supplement containing a high concentration of branched-chain amino acids for 5 days, and the level of serum ammonia improved to 79 µg/dL. He stated that he could not remember the episode. The findings of this case suggest the importance of examining serum ammonia levels in patients receiving an oxaliplatin-containing regimen who develop disordered consciousness.

Introduction

Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is widely used to treat advanced colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancer. The common side effects related to oxaliplatin are nausea, vomiting, bone marrow suppression, and peripheral neuropathy [1]. Oxaliplatin-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy is rarely reported. Hyperammonemic encephalopathy is a rare complication that can occur after oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, and it manifests as altered mental status without any radiologic abnormality or abnormal laboratory test results, except for elevated serum ammonia levels. Herein, we report a case of oxaliplatin-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy that occurred after gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin (GEMOX) chemotherapy in a patient with pancreatic cancer.

Case Report

A 76-year-old man with no history of hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection had pancreatic adenocarcinoma with peritoneal dissemination. The clinical stage was IV (cT3N1M1). The main site of metastasis was the peritoneum, and there was no liver metastasis. With respect to his family history, his father had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The level of serum carcinoembryonic antigen was 87.6 ng/dL (reference value, <5.0 ng/dL) and that of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 was 15,030 U/mL (reference value, <37.0 U/mL). The patient received a GEMOX regimen as first-line therapy as part of a clinical trial. GEMOX consists of gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m²) and oxaliplatin (100 mg/m²) on day 1, and administration is repeated every 2 weeks. The second cycle of GEMOX was administered as planned. However, the patient appeared to have difficulty performing daily activities on the night of admission. Two days later (day 3), he visited the emergency room complaining of drowsiness. His body temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure were 37.1°C, 80 beats per min, and 133/74 mm Hg, respectively. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 14 (E4V4M6). Upon examination, asterixis was not present, nor were dehydration or constipation. Blood examination revealed a serum ammonia level of 202 µg/dL (reference value, 19–54 µg/dL). Levels of serum hepatic enzymes were mildly elevated (aspartate aminotransferase, 101 IU/L [reference value, 8–40 IU/L]; alanine aminotransferase, 69 IU/L [reference value, 8–40 IU/L]). Serum hemoglobin level was 12.8 g/dL (reference value, 13.4–17.6 g/dL) and it had not decreased compared with the usual level for this patient. Serum sodium, serum albumin, and serum cholinesterase levels were 136 mEq/L (reference value, 136–148 mEq/L), 3.8 g/dL (reference value, 3.9–4.9 g/dL), and 124 U/L (reference value, 165–470 U/L), respectively. Serum C-reactive protein and serum white blood cell count were 0.09 mg/dL (reference value, 0–0.5 mg/dL) and 6,000/µL (reference value, 3,900–9,000/µL), respectively. Serum blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were 24.5 mg/dL (reference value, 8.0–20.0 mg/dL) and 0.58 mg/dL (reference value, 0.60–1.10 mg/dL), respectively. Computed tomography revealed no liver metastasis or splenomegaly, but there was collateral circulation due to portal vein stenosis. Magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid examination, and blood culture revealed no abnormalities.

Based on these results, the patient was diagnosed with oxaliplatin-induced hyperammonemia. One day after hospitalization, his GCS score decreased to 6 (E1V1M4), which was his worst value. His consciousness disorder improved after administration of a nutritional supplement containing a high concentration of branched-chain amino acids for 5 days, and his level of serum ammonia improved to 79 µg/dL. The patient was discharged 13 days later and hyperammonemia has not recurred despite the absence of predictive medication. We considered hyperammonemic encephalopathy was a severe adverse event of chemotherapy and thus ceased administration of this regimen in his case.

Discussion

Currently, FOLFIRINOX (5-fluorouracil [5-FU], oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel are standard therapies for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, many clinical trials have used other regimens, including GEMOX, gemcitabine plus cisplatin, or gemcitabine plus S-1 [2, 3, 4]. Especially in the case of patients who have a family history of either breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancers, chemotherapy including a platinum agent is associated with a better survival rate [5]. In this case, the patient had a family history of pancreatic cancer. The FOLFIRINOX regimen is not recommended for patients aged >76 years because they are typically excluded from clinical trials, and the adverse events caused by this regimen can be severe [6]. Our patient received GEMOX because he participated in a clinical trial.

Hyperammonemic encephalopathy is uncommon, and 5-FU, cytarabine, and vincristine are known to be associated with this adverse event [7]. Hyperammonemic encephalopathy is a severe adverse event of oxaliplatin, and its frequency is reported to be 0.07% when oxaliplatin is used in combination with 5-FU. In contrast, gemcitabine has not been reported to be associated with hyperammonemic encephalopathy. It is possible that, in this case, the patient actually experienced gemcitabine-induced hyperammonemia; however, based on previous reports, we concluded that this was a case of oxaliplatin-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy.

The risk factors for chemotherapy-induced hyperammonemia are dehydration, constipation, renal dysfunction, infection, or catabolism of skeletal muscle due to malnutrition [8]. However, our patient did not have any obvious risk factors. One study reported a case of hyperammonemia due to collateral circulation, and, in this case, collateral circulation was identified by computed tomography [9]. Hyperammonemic encephalopathy due to collateral circulation usually shows recurrence [10]. Our patient did not develop recurrent hyperammonemia; hence, we concluded that collateral circulation was not the cause of this event.

The findings of our case indicate the importance of analyzing serum ammonia levels in patients receiving an oxaliplatin-containing regimen who develop disordered consciousness. In cases of chemotherapy-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy, one suggested mechanism includes a catabolic state induced by chemotherapeutic agents that overwhelm the capacity of the urea cycle [11]. The mechanism of action of oxaliplatin involves the mitochondrial pathway; hence, it is possible that oxaliplatin impairs the urea cycle [12]. To identify whether oxaliplatin impairs the activity of the urea cycle enzyme, it is effective that the laboratory tests of plasma amino acid and urinary orotic acid are performed. When the activity of the urea cycle enzyme is impaired, plasma amino acid levels reveal low ornithine with normal alanine and glutamine, and the urinary orotic acid level is elevated [13]. While cisplatin-related hyperammonemia has been reported, cisplatin was administered only in combination with 5-FU in previous studies [14]. To our knowledge, no study has reported a case of carboplatin-associated hyperammonemia. The half-life of oxaliplatin is longer than that of other platinum-based agents (Table 1) [15]. It is hypothesized that, because oxaliplatin persists for a longer time than other platinum agents, hyperammonemia does not occur with cisplatin or nedaplatin, but does with oxaliplatin.

Table 1.

Half-life of platinum-based agents

	Oxaliplatin	Cisplatin	Carboplatin	Tetraplatin
t1/2α, h	7.30±4.9	0.22±0.15	0.37±0.17	0.16
t1/2β, h	239±54.4	0.72±0.4	1.93±0.23	25.8

Conclusion

We suggest that oxaliplatin-induced hyperammonemia is caused by a disturbance of the urea cycle. Further studies should be undertaken to clarify the mechanism involved.

Statement of Ethics

The Ethics Committee of Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital approved the study.

Written informed consent was obtained from the deceased's wife for publication of this case report.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.