J. Neurol. Sci. 2008-12-15
Significant clinical improvement in radiation-induced lumbosacral polyradiculopathy by a treatment combining pentoxifylline, tocopherol, and clodronate (Pentoclo).
Abstract
Radiation-induced (RI) peripheral neuropathy is a rare and severe delayed complication of radiotherapy that is spontaneously irreversible, with no standard of treatment. We previously developed a successful antioxidant treatment in RI fibrosis and necrosis. Two patients with progressive worsening RI lumbosacral polyradiculopathy experienced over several years a significant clinical improvement in their neurological sensorimotor symptoms with long-term pentoxifylline-tocopherol-clodronate treatment, and good safety.
Related Questions
How do you manage radiation plexopathy?
This is a frustrating problem. I agree that there are no proven treatments for radiation plexopathy. However, chronic radiation injuries appear due at least in part to an ongoing inflammatory process. Interrupting this process with pentoxifylline and Vitamin E has been successful in reversing fibros...
How to you manage radiation brachial plexopathy in head & neck patients?
I am not aware of any effective therapy for brachial plexopathy. Bevacizumab has been reported to be beneficial in radiation-induced brain and retinal injury but I am not aware of its use in neuropathy. In any case, brachial plexopathy after RT of HN cancer is quite rare. I do not recall any BP case...