Mechanisms underlying seizures and hypothermia during busulphan administration - Summary - MDSpire

Mechanisms underlying seizures and hypothermia during busulphan administration

  • By

  • Ibrahim El-Serafi

  • Sofia Berglund

  • Fadwa BenKessou

  • Alina Codita

  • Maryam Saghafian

  • David Lindskog

  • Matthijs C. Dorst

  • Gilad Silberberg

  • Manuchehr Abedi-Valugerdi

  • Wenyi Zheng

  • Rui He

  • Manon Renault

  • Weiying Zhou

  • Chao Yu

  • Massoud Vosough

  • Sandra Oerther

  • Ying Zhao

  • Jonas Mattsson

  • Moustapha Hassan

  • May 3, 2025

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To investigate the kinetics of busulphan and its metabolites in patients and mice, and to understand the mechanisms underlying CNS toxicity, including seizures and hypothermia, particularly focusing on neurotransmitter alterations.

Key Findings:
  • Busulphan and its metabolites can cross the blood-brain barrier.
  • Approximately 10% of patients receiving high doses of busulphan experience seizures, highlighting the need for careful monitoring.
  • Sulfolane, a busulphan metabolite, has been associated with neurotoxicity, including convulsions and hypothermia in animal studies.
Interpretation:

The study suggests that busulphan and its metabolites may induce CNS toxicity, leading to seizures and hypothermia, potentially through neurotoxic mechanisms involving alterations in neurotransmitters such as dopamine and GABA.

Limitations:
  • The study's sample size for patients was relatively small (n=18).
  • Animal models may not fully replicate human responses to busulphan, and potential confounding factors were not fully addressed.
Conclusion:

Understanding the mechanisms of busulphan-induced CNS toxicity is crucial for improving patient management and prophylaxis against seizures during HSCT.

Original Source(s)

Mechanisms underlying seizures and hypothermia during busulphan administration

  • by Ibrahim El-Serafi, Sofia Berglund, Fadwa BenKessou, Alina Codita, Maryam Saghafian, David Lindskog, Matthijs C. Dorst, Gilad Silberberg, Manuchehr Abedi-Valugerdi, Wenyi Zheng, Rui He, Manon Renault, Weiying Zhou, Chao Yu, Massoud Vosough, Sandra Oerther, Ying Zhao, Jonas Mattsson, Moustapha Hassan

  • May 3, 2025

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