levoleucovorin and Intracranial-Aneurysm

A 70-year-old woman underwent emergent clipping surgery for subarachnoid hemorrhage under general anesthesia. Her laboratory data showed thrombocytopenia (4.0 x 10(4) microl(-1)). She had taken prednisolone (3 mg x day(-1)) and methotrexate (MTX) (10 mg x week(-1)) for rheumatoid arthritis for the last 10 years. Anesthesia was induced with remifentanil as well as propofol, maintained with remifentanil and sevoflurane in oxygen. The operation was performed uneventfully without platelet transfusion. Since the cause of thrombocytopenia was suspected to be MTX, we started rescue therapy by calcium folinate postoperatively. Platelet count was normalized two days later (11.6 x 10(4) microl(-1)). One month after the operation, she was discharged uneventfully.

Topics: Aged; Anesthesia, General; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Emergencies; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Intracranial Aneurysm; Leucovorin; Methotrexate; Piperidines; Platelet Transfusion; Postoperative Care; Propofol; Remifentanil; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Thrombocytopenia; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Surgical Procedures

Choriocarcinoma are malignant neoplastic tumors from the trophoblastic tissue with a tendency to early metastases. Beside pulmonary metastases there are often cerebral metastases, leading to intracerebral hemorrhage often responsible for the first clinical symptoms. In young women, symptoms like vaginal or pulmonary bleeding or neurologic disturbances shortly after a hydatiform mole or a normal pregnancy, accompanied by high levels of HCG in serum and CSF, choriocarcinoma should be considered. Choriocarcinoma are very sensitive to chemotherapy, which consists--depending on the stage of the disease--of a mono- or polychemotherapy. Cure rates are high, even in extended stages with cerebral metastases--as in the case described. Brain metastases with or without oncotic aneurysms can be rapidly controlled by immediate whole brain irradiation. Surgical interventions may be necessary in the case of life threatening bleedings. Levels of HCG in serum and cerebrospinal fluid are good markers to control the effect of therapy. But--as shown in this patient--levels of HCG in CSF may decrease protracted without affecting prognosis. Oncotic aneurysms are rarely reported and mostly detected post mortem. The presented case leads to a more optimistic attitude and demonstrates efficacy of immediately started radio- and chemotherapy.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Blindness; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebral Angiography; Choriocarcinoma; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Combined Modality Therapy; Dactinomycin; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Intracranial Aneurysm; Leucovorin; Methotrexate; Pregnancy; Prognosis; Radiotherapy Dosage; Time Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Uterine Neoplasms; Vincristine