Peripheral neuropathy in children and adolescents treated for cancer. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bjornard, Kari L; Gilchrist, Laura S; Inaba, Hiroto; Diouf, Barthelemy; Hockenberry, Marilyn J; Kadan-Lottick, Nina S; Bowers, Daniel C; Dolan, M Eileen; Ullrich, Nicole J; Evans, William E; Ness, Kirsten K
• Is Part Of: Lancet. Volume 2:Number 10(2018)
• Page Start: 744
• Page End: 754
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Adolescent medicine -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(18)30236-0
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-4642

Abstract

Summary: Peripheral neuropathy is a well recognised treatment-related toxicity in children with cancer, associated with exposure to neurotoxic chemotherapy agents. Acute damage can occur in sensory, motor, or autonomic neurons, with symptoms that are rarely life threatening, but often severe enough to interfere with function during therapy and after treatment ends. The type of neuropathy and specific symptoms are associated with multiple factors including age at time of therapy, genetic predisposition, chemotherapy type and cumulative dose, and exposure to other agents during therapy. In this Review, we describe the peripheral neuropathy phenotype in children during cancer therapy and among survivors who have completed therapy, to summarise genetic and treatment-related risk factors for neuropathy, and to outline strategies to monitor and detect neuropathy during and after therapy. Additionally, we outline strategies for medical management of neuropathy during treatment and potential rehabilitation interventions to prevent or remediate functional loss.