Prevalence of vincristine induced-peripheral neuropathy among Sudanese cancer patients

Abstract

Background: Increasing clinical evidence suggests treatment of cancer with neurotoxic agents results in some degree of peripheral neuropathy. Objective: The main objective of the study was to evaluate vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy among Sudanese cancer patients. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Radiation and Isotopes Center, Khartoum State, Sudan. All patients suffering from cancer with an age of 18 to 65 years were reviewed. A self-developed data collection form was used to collect the demographic data; drug use history; medical diseases; and vincristine cycles. The World Health Organization criteria were used to grade the side-effects. Data was collected for a period of two months and were analyzed descriptively. Results: Out of 78 patients reviewed, majority were females (n=47, 60.3%). Most of the patients were in the age group of 18-30 (n=27, 34.6%) and 51-60 (n=27, 34.6%) years. Twenty six (33.3%) of the patients took analgesic and 15.3% (n=12) experienced hypertension. Most of the patients went through more than 6 cycles of therapy with vincristine (n=24, 30.9%). Our study showed that 'altered bowel function (i.e constipation)' was the most important neuropathic change, which occurred in 62 (79.5%) of the patients who received vincristine. The second common neuropathic change was the 'lack of ability to go upstairs un-aided', which occurred in 37 (47.4%) of patients receiving vincristine. Majority of the patients (n=37, 47.5%) showed mild paresthesia as graded by the 'WHO grading scale'. Conclusion: More than three-fourth of the cancer patients experienced vincristine induced peripheral neuropathy. Healthcare professionals need some understanding regarding medical management that may decrease occurrence of neuropathy and a better planning and implementing special care for patients at risk.

Vincristine-Induced Neuropathy in Patients Diagnosed with Solid and Hematological Malignancies: The Role of Dose Rounding

“…Similar to pediatric patients, the autonomic type of neuropathy was the most prevalent type, followed by peripheral neuropathy. Our findings support what has been reported previously by Imam et al, where 80% of Sudanese patients developed autonomic neuropathic symptoms following vincristine treatment, while peripheral neuropathy was reported as the second most common neuropathic change in their study population [33].…”

Neuroprotective Effect of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 against Vincristine- Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized, Double- Blind, Placebo Controlled, Multicenter Trial

“…This study has not evaluated the autonomic neuropathy, a common side effect of vincristine chemotherapy that is more pronounced in adult patients [43]. Risk factors of developing neuropathy like, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, preexisting neuropathy also needs to be taken into consideration [44,45].…”