Neurotoxicity Induced by Cefepime in a Patient with Minimal Change Disease

Korean Journal of Nephrology 2010;29(6):796-801.

Seung Don Baek, M.D.1, Se Jeung Park, M.D.1, Chung Hee Baek, M.D.1, Tai Yeon Koo, M.D.1, Joong Koo Kang, M.D.2 and Soon Bae Kim, M.D.1

Department of Internal Medicine1 and Neurology²
University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

증례 : Neurotoxicity Induced by Cefepime in a Patient with Minimal Change Disease

Seung Don Baek, M.D.1, Se Jeung Park, M.D.1, Chung Hee Baek, M.D.1, Tai Yeon Koo, M.D.1, Joong Koo Kang, M.D.2 and Soon Bae Kim, M.D.1

Department of Internal Medicine1 and Neurology2, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

A 71-year-old woman with minimal change disease visited our clinic complaining of pleuritic chest pain. Cefepime was given under the impression that she had pneumonia. Three days after cefepime administration, she became unconscious. A brain MRI scan was non-revealing and an EEG showed triphasic waves. As there was no evidence of septic, uremic or hepatic encephalopathy, we suspected cefepime-induced neurotoxicity. Cefepime was stopped and she underwent hemodialysis to decrease the blood levels of the drug. Following hemodialysis, she regained consciousness.

Key Words: Cefepime, Neurotoxicity syndromes, Minimal change glomerulopathy, Hemodialysis