Cyclosporin A-associated status epilepticus related to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia

Cyclosporin A is an essential drug for graft versus host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Cyclosporin A-associated neurotoxicity is common but poorly understood. The authors herein report on 3 patients receiving transplants for thalassemia. GvHD prophylaxis included cyclosporin A, prednisolone, and methotrexate. All patients developed a status epilepticus with cortical signal alterations located mainly in occipital regions on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Complete disappearance of the neurologic symptoms and radiographic findings was observed without discontinuing cyclosporin A therapy. Especially, pediatric thalassemics receiving busulfan/cyclophosphamide as preparative regimen seem to be significantly prone to cyclosporin A-associated seizures.