Who is at high risk for the development of peripheral neuropathy ???

Updated: Monday, March 08, 2004 12:21:46 PM

Those at highest risk for development of peripheral neuropathy are those who are taking certain chemotherapy drugs at:

• higher doses than usual. One source stated that with Taxol, the symptoms began 7 days after the 1^st or 2^nd treatments of higher doses (300- 350mg/m²), or after 3-7^th treatments in those getting lower amounts (135-250 mg/m2). In all patients, symptoms will progress with each dose. Therefore the most significant risk factor for developing neuropathy is "dose intensity". Another example: Cisplatin given at 200mg/m² in divided doses over 5 days/mo. causes more neuropathy than Cisplatin given 120mg/m² once a month.

• more frequent intervals (Example: every three weeks versus every four weeks).

• faster rates of administration of the individual dose (Example: over three hours versus over 24 hours).

• during prolonged series of treatments (Example: 24 treatments versus 6 treatments).

Other individuals who are at the highest risk for development of neuropathy are those who:

• have previously been treated with a potentially neuropathy-causing drug.

• are taking two chemotherapy drugs (with the potential to cause neuropathy) at the same time.

• have a disease, such as diabetes, which increases potential for development of neuropathy.

• have pre-existing neuropathy, especially if the current chemo being taken causes neuropathy.

Pre-existing neuropathy may worsen if the current chemotherapy has the potential to cause neuropathy.

Neuropathy may re-occur faster if is occurred in the past and then disappeared over time. (Example: If chemotherapy two years ago caused neuropathy, but it went away about a year later....then the development of peripheral neuropathy this time may occur sooner or with lower doses.

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