EMPACT syndrome: Limited evidence despite a high-risk cohort Journal Article


Authors: Bishop, A. J.; Chang, M.; Lacouture, M. E.; Barker, C. A.
Article Title: EMPACT syndrome: Limited evidence despite a high-risk cohort
Abstract: Serious dermatologic adverse events such as erythema multiforme (EM) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) have been reported in patients receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and cranial radiotherapy (RT). Given the frequency of AED-associated rashes and the infrequency of serious dermatologic adverse events after cranial RT, we sought to further assess the prevalence of cutaneous eruptions in patients receiving an AED before and after cranial RT. We reviewed medical records of patients taking AEDs while undergoing RT for a high-grade glioma and recorded demographic, disease, and treatment parameters, as well as the development of rashes. Rashes were found in 19 % of patients taking AEDs. Phenytoin was most commonly implicated (93 %) in rash formation compared with other AEDs (P < 0.0001), both before and during RT. Most rashes (76 %) occurred before starting RT (P < 0.0001). However, of those during RT, most were associated with phenytoin compared with other AEDs (P = 0.002). One case of SJS was noted in a patient receiving phenytoin prior to RT. While rashes were slightly less prevalent in patients receiving temozolomide compared with those not receiving temozolomide (3.4 vs 4.8 %), this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.65). Rashes are relatively common in patients receiving AEDs, with the highest incidence associated with phenytoin. However, the risk of serious dermatologic events is low. There did not appear to be an association between the receipt of cranial radiotherapy and the development of AED-associated rash with phenytoin or other AEDs. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media.
Keywords: adolescent; adult; cancer survival; child; treatment response; aged; major clinical study; disease course; intensity modulated radiation therapy; treatment duration; temozolomide; outcome assessment; glioma; disease association; radiotherapy; incidence; radiation injury; retrospective study; radiation exposure; risk assessment; rash; etiracetam; phenobarbital; erythema; therapy effect; computer assisted radiotherapy; phenytoin; valproic acid; stevens johnson syndrome; toxic epidermal necrolysis; carbamazepine; erythema multiforme; antiepileptic drug; stevens-johnson syndrome; human; male; female; article; empact syndrome; erythema multiforme associated with phenytoin and cranial radiation therapy syndrome
Journal Title: Journal of Neuro-Oncology
Volume: 119
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0167-594X
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 2014-08-01
Start Page: 129
End Page: 134
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s11060-014-1457-7
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 24792490
PMCID: PMC4712043
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 1 October 2014 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Mario E Lacouture
    457 Lacouture
  2. Christopher Barker
    218 Barker
  3. Andrew Justin Bishop
    5 Bishop
  4. Maria Chang
    10 Chang