ro13-9904 and Chorea

Ceftriaxone (CTRX) is a third-generation cephalosporin commonly used to treat infections such as community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections caused by mainly Gram-negative bacteria and some Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we report a case of a patient on hemodialysis who had chorea-like symptoms with high blood concentration of CTRX. A 74-year-old Japanese woman receiving hemodialysis was admitted with obstructive cholangitis and was started on CTRX therapy at a dose of 2 g every 24 hours. On the 6th day after starting administration of CTRX, chorea-like symptoms appeared. We suspected that her symptoms were caused by a high blood concentration of CTRX. We performed a series of blood sampling to determine the concentration of CTRX at different time points before and after discontinuing CTRX administration. CTRX concentrations were higher than those expected in healthy adults, and her chorea-like symptoms had disappeared from the second day of discontinuation of CTRX. The association between CTRX blood concentration and chorea-like symptoms is unclear. However, measuring a series of plasma or serum concentrations from symptom onset to disappearance suggested that chorea-like symptoms appeared when the concentration exceeded approximately 450 μg/mL. Care should be taken when administering CTRX to patients with cholestasis undergoing hemodialysis, as blood CTRX levels may rise unexpectedly and result in complications.

Topics: Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ceftriaxone; Cholangitis; Chorea; Female; Humans; Renal Dialysis

Topics: Ceftriaxone; Chorea; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Renal Dialysis

Neurologic manifestations, such as myoclonus, asterixis, seizures and altered level of consciousness, may be induced in patients with impaired renal function receiving β-lactam antibiotics, which stem in part from drug accumulation because of altered pharmacokinetics. Because of its long half-life and easy penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid, the third generation cephalosporin, ceftriaxone (CTRX), is often chosen to treat patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Here, the authors describe 4 patients with ESRD complicated with bacterial infection and choreoathetosis after the administration of CTRX. Choreoathetosis disappeared without leaving sequelae after CTRX therapy was withdrawn, although the severity and symptom duration varied. To our knowledge, there are few reports on choreoathetosis associated with β-lactam antibiotic administration in patients with kidney diseases. To prevent delayed diagnosis, one should bear in mind that choreoathetosis might occur in patients with ESRD treated with CTRX, when it is given in high or even regular doses.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Athetosis; Ceftriaxone; Chorea; Female; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male