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    Ann Intern Med. 1983 Jun;98(6):921-5.

    Neurologic symptoms associated with parenteral acyclovir treatment after marrow transplantation.

    Wade JC, Meyers JD.

    Six marrow transplant recipients receiving acyclovir at various dosages for herpesvirus infections developed neurologic symptoms during treatment. Three were receiving concomitant human alpha interferon, and all six had received previous intrathecal methotrexate. Symptoms developed a median of 8 days (range, 2 to 18 days) after initiation of therapy and consisted of lethargy or agitation in five patients, tremor in five, and disorientation or transient hemiparesthesias in one patient each. The only consistent laboratory finding was an abnormal electroencephalogram. Five patients had an increased myelin basic protein level in cerebrospinal fluid. Improvement or resolution of symptoms occurred a median of 13 days (range, 4 to 15 days) after cessation of acyclovir therapy. Acyclovir used at a wide range of dosages may be associated with reversible neurologic symptoms in patients after marrow transplantation. The contribution of previous prophylaxis for central nervous system leukemia, herpesvirus infections, marrow transplantation, or the concomitant use of interferon is unknown.

    PMID: 6305245 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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    Patient drug information

    • Methotrexate (Rheumatrex®, Trexall®)

      Methotrexate is used to treat severe psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body) that cannot be controlled by other treatments. Methotrexate is also used along with rest, physica...

    • Acyclovir (Zovirax®)

      Acyclovir is used to decrease pain and speed the healing of sores or blisters in people who have varicella (chickenpox), herpes zoster (shingles; a rash that can occur in people who have had chickenpox in the past), and ...