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Would you consider using capecitabine in a patient who previously had encephalopathy with 5-FU?

2 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Medical Oncology · Los Angeles VA Medical Center
Answered on

I will offer my anecdote of a patient I've treated with metastatic rectal cancer. When given FOLFIRI/bev, he felt terrible 1-2 days after the 5-FU pump started. 1st cycle, bounced back with time. 2nd cycle, went to the ER and got admitted for encephalopathy, had hyperammonemia and lactic acidosis. S...

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Medical Oncology · Mary Lanning Healthcare Morrison Cancer Center/University of Nebraska Medical Center Adjunct Faculty
Answered on · Updated on

5-FU-induced encephalopathy is rare, involving 5.7% of patients treated with high-dose 5-FU chemotherapy. The mechanism of fluorouracil-induced encephalopathy is unclear, likely multifactorial. Two pathogenetic mechanisms have been postulated: 1. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency, in ...

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