Somatic and autonomic small fiber neuropathy induced by bortezomib therapy: an immunofluorescence study

• Published in: Neurological sciences Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 361 - 363
• Main Authors: Giannoccaro, Maria Pia, Donadio, Vincenzo, Gomis Pèrez, Carolina, Borsini, Walter, Di Stasi, Vitantonio, Liguori, Rocco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milan Springer Milan 01-04-2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - pathology; Boronic Acids - adverse effects; Bortezomib; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Letter to the Editor; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma - drug therapy; Neuralgia - chemically induced; Neuralgia - pathology; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; Polyneuropathies - chemically induced; Polyneuropathies - pathology; Psychiatry; Pyrazines - adverse effects; Skin - innervation; Small fiber neuropathy; Skin biopsy; Bortezomib; Autonomic neuropathy; Velcade
• ISSN: 1590-1874; 1590-3478
• DOI: 10.1007/s10072-010-0475-2

Bortezomib is a new chemotherapeutic agent approved for the treatment of relapsed/refractory and newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. One of the major side effects of bortezomib is a peripheral length-dependent sensory axonal neuropathy and, less frequently, a small fiber neuropathy. Autonomic symptoms like postural dizziness, syncope, diarrhoea, ileus, impotence and urinary disturbances have been reported, nevertheless, autonomic neuropathy has never been characterized. We describe by means of immunofluorescence, the involvement of autonomic skin nerve fibers in three patients with small fiber neuropathy induced by bortezomib treatment.