Vincristine-Induced Urinary Bladder Paralysis

Abstract

The authors describe the development of bladder paralysis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia undergoing maintenance chemotherapy. Immediately before the adverse clinical event, the child had received vincristine intravenously and triple therapy with hydrocortisone, cytosine arabinoside, and methotrexate intrathecally and had begun a 5-day pulse of prednisolone. The authors conclude that the ensuing reversible bladder paralysis was related to the vincristine. The clinical event resolved, and vincristine was deleted from the child's subsequent therapy until full recovery was achieved. The authors advise recognition of this problem and discontinuation of the vincristine if transient bladder paralysis develops until symptoms completely disappear.

Aspects of vincristine-induced neuropathy in hematologic malignancies: a systematic review

“…The most common is peripheral sensory and motor nerve neuropathy characterized by numbness, paresthesia, impaired balance, weakened tendon reflexes, and altered gait [9]. Autonomic dysfunctions includes constipation, paralytic ileus, urinary retention and orthostatic hypotension [10, 11]. Furthermore, several cranial nerve palsies and some central nerve system (CNS) toxicities have been reported (Table 1) [12–27], even though vincristine poorly penetrates the blood–brain barrier [28].…”

Vincristine-induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Urinary Bladder Paralysis in a Child With Rhabdomyosarcoma

“…[1][2][3] To our knowledge, vincristine-induced urinary bladder dysfunction generally was reported in adults, and only in a 1 child. [6][7][8][9] Our patient is the second reported case in the pediatric age group with a urinary bladder paralysis. It occurred together with peripheral neuropathy in our case.…”

Unilateral Ptosis in a Child with Wilm’s Tumor Induced by Vincristine

“…The most common is peripheral sensory and motor nerve neuropathy characterized by numbness, paresthesia, impaired balance, weakened tendon reflexes, and altered gait [3]. Autonomic dysfunctions include constipation, paralytic ileus, urinary retention, and orthostatic hypotension [4] [5]. Furthermore, several cranial nerve palsies and some Central Nervous System (CNS) toxicities have been reported [6] [7].…”