Overdosage with vincristine

Abstract

Five patients received overdoses of vincristine ranging from 3.5 to 32 mg. Neurotoxicity accounted for most of the complications observed. Peripheral neuropathies, cranial nerve palsies, paralytic ileus, atony of the bladder, hypertension, hypotension, seizures, inappropriate ADH secretion, and severe bone marrow depression were all encountered. Two patients died within 72 hours of the overdose. Another patient died of sepsis 22 days after the overdose. Two patients recovered and were discharged. The three patients who survived longer than a few days showed improvement in the vincristine-induced neuropathy, and the two long-term survivors had essentially complete recovery. It appears that if a patient can be supported through the critical period following an overdose, he can be expected to recover normal neurologic function.