Aplastic anemia as a cause of death in a patient with glioblastoma multiforme treated with temozolomide

Strahlenther Onkol. 2010 Aug;186(8):452-7. doi: 10.1007/s00066-010-2132-3. Epub 2010 Jul 29.

Abstract

Background: Standard treatment of glioblastoma multiforme consists of postoperative radiochemotherapy with temozolomide, followed by a 6-month chemotherapy. Serious hematologic complications are rarely reported.

Case report and results: The authors present the case of a 61-year-old female patient with glioblastoma multiforme treated with external-beam radiation therapy and concomitant temozolomide. After completion of treatment, the patient developed symptoms of serious aplastic anemia that eventually led to death due to prolonged neutro- and thrombocytopenia followed by infectious complications.

Conclusion: Lethal complications following temozolomide are, per se, extremely rare, however, a total of four other cases of aplastic anemia have been reported in the literature so far.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Aplastic / chemically induced*
  • Anemia, Aplastic / mortality*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / toxicity*
  • Blood Cell Count
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Cause of Death
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cranial Irradiation
  • Dacarbazine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dacarbazine / therapeutic use
  • Dacarbazine / toxicity
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe*
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / radiotherapy*
  • Hemorrhagic Disorders / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhagic Disorders / mortality
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Parietal Lobe*
  • Temozolomide

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Dacarbazine
  • Temozolomide