Abstract

S. Harrak*, S. Lemsanes, S. Razine, K. Benchekroune, S. Najem, S. Lannaz, I. Ghissassi and H. Errihani

ABSTRACT

5-FU is antimetabolites that have been widely used in the treatment of various malignant diseases. A severe side effect to 5-FU based treatment is stroke-like neurotoxicity. ischemic stroke is rare but reported. there is no clear pathogenic explanation for these events, although a number of possibilities are put forward, including direct endothelium toxicity or arterial vasospasm. We present a case of stroke-like neurotoxicity in a patient with rectal cancer treated with FOLFIRINOX, a 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-containing chemotherapy regimen. The close temporal relationship between the end of 5-FU infusion and ischemic stroke points at chemotherapy as a reasonable cause suggest a causative relationship between chemotherapy and the ischaemic attack in this patient.Recognition of this toxicity as complications of 5-FU chemotherapy is crucial for the proper diagnosis and treatment of patients.