Electroencephalogram changes secondary to asparaginase.

Abstract

ASPARAGINASE is a new antitumor agent which was reported by Tallal et al 1 in 1969, to be effective in inducing remission in patients with acute leukemia. This agent is an enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of asparaginase to L-aspartic acid and ammonia. Clinical trials have been conducted with a preparation derived from Escherichia coli . The early experience of Hill et al 2 in 1967 with asparaginase suggested that this agent inhibited only tumor cells and had no effect on normal host cells. However, more extensive clinical trials by Whitecar et al, 3 have shown that there was a decrease in several plasma proteins such as fibrinogen, albumin, insulin, and amylase, indicating that asparaginase inhibited protein synthesis by normal cells. During a clinical trial of asparaginase in patients with leukemia and metastatic cancer at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Hospital at Houston, several patients developed lethargy, confusion,