Toxic medications in Charcot-Marie-Tooth patients: A systematic review

Background and AimsSeveral widely used medications, with a relevant efficacy profile, are toxic to the peripheral nervous system and an even larger number of agents are suspected to be neurotoxic. There are concerns about the use of these drugs in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. This review provides evidence-based updated recommendations on this clinically relevant topic. MethodsA systematic review of the available studies/reports written in English was performed from July to September 2022 including in the search string all reported putative neurotoxic drugs. ResultsThe results of our systematic review provide evidence-based support for the statement that use of vincristine, and possibly paclitaxel, can occasionally induce an atypical, and more severe, course of drug-related peripheral neurotoxicity in CMT patients. It is therefore reasonable to recommend caution in the use of these compounds in CMT patients. However, no convincing evidence for a similar recommendation could be found for all other drugs. InterpretationIt is important that patients with CMT are not denied effective treatments that may prolong life expectancy for cancer or improve their health status if affected by non-oncological diseases. Accurate monitoring of peripheral nerve function in CMT patients treated with any neurotoxic agent remains mandatory to detect the earliest signs of neuropathy worsening and atypical clinical courses. Neurologists monitoring CMT patients as part of their normal care package or for natural history studies should keep detailed records of exposures to neurotoxic medications and support reporting of accelerated neuropathy progression if observed.

Automated summary

This review provides evidence-based recommendations on the use of neurotoxic drugs in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). The study found that vincristine and possibly paclitaxel can occasionally induce a more severe course of drug-related peripheral neurotoxicity in CMT patients. Caution is therefore recommended when using these compounds. However, there is no convincing evidence for similar recommendations for other drugs.