Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38460049›Full record

SynthesisNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2024

Tacrolimus-associated neurotoxicity isolated to the brainstem: two illustrative cases and a systematic review of the literature.

Simone Rossi, Rita Rinaldi, Gian Maria Asioli, Valentina Barone, Paolo Pianta, Matteo Cescon, Maria Cristina Morelli, Luca Faccioli, Luca Spinardi, Pietro Cortelli and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Simone RossiUOC Clinica Neurologica - Rete Neurologica Metropolitana (NEUROMET), IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy. simone.rossi@aosp.bo.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7044-983X
Rita RinaldiUOC Clinica Neurologica - Rete Neurologica Metropolitana (NEUROMET), IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
Gian Maria AsioliUOC Clinica Neurologica - Rete Neurologica Metropolitana (NEUROMET), IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
Valentina BaroneUOC Clinica Neurologica - Rete Neurologica Metropolitana (NEUROMET), IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
Paolo PiantaInternal Medicine Unit for the Treatment of Severe Organ Failure, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Matteo CesconHepatobiliary Surgery and Transplant Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Sant'Orsola Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Maria Cristina MorelliInternal Medicine Unit for the Treatment of Severe Organ Failure, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Luca FaccioliIRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Luca SpinardiIRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Pietro CortelliUOC Clinica Neurologica - Rete Neurologica Metropolitana (NEUROMET), IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
Maria GuarinoUOC Clinica Neurologica - Rete Neurologica Metropolitana (NEUROMET), IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTacrolimus-associated neurotoxicity (TAN) manifests with wide clinical spectrum, ranging from mild tremors to severe encephalopathy. The isolated involvement of the brainstem is a rarely documented presentation of TAN, and its clinical and diagnostic characteristics are unclear.

methodsWe report two cases of brainstem-isolated TAN (bi-TAN). Moreover, we performed a systematic review of the literature on bi-TAN and extracted data concerning demographics, clinical characteristics, radiological features, and management. The systematic literature search followed PRISMA guidelines and a pre-defined protocol.

resultsEleven patients, including our two, were identified (mean age: 41.3 years, ± 18.8; five males, 45%). Speech disturbance was the most common clinical presentation (45%). The mean latency from Tacrolimus initiation to bi-TAN onset was 26 days (± 30.8). Tacrolimus serum level tested above the reference range in three patients (mean: 26.83 ± 5.48). Brain MRI showed T2-FLAIR hyperintensities; three showed restricted diffusion on ADC maps. Neurological symptoms resolved completely in seven patients (63%) after Tacrolimus withdrawal or dose reduction.

conclusionsOur findings suggest that bi-TAN could represent a brainstem variant of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Recognition of bi-TAN as a potential cause of isolated brainstem lesions is crucial to disentangle the diagnostic work-up and ensure prompt withdrawal or reduction of the offending agent.

Indexed as

Brain StemImmunosuppressive AgentsNeurotoxicity SyndromesTacrolimusAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedImmunosuppressive AgentsTacrolimusCalcineurin inhibitorsImmunosuppressantsLiver transplantationNeurotoxicologyPRES

Identifiers

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.