ISSN 2326-7283
African Journal of Internal Medicine ISSN 2326-7283 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 355-358, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Case Report
A study on Erlotinib metabolism of phenytoin
Ariel Lin Yan1,2,3, Vivian Yang Hsiao 1,2,3, Takeshi N. Hsu1 and Tsai Huang Yi1,2*
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital – Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
2Department of Respiratory Therapy, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital – Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
3Department of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Chiayi, Taiwan, R.O.C.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 28 June, 2016
Abstract
Seizure is a common manifestation of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) associated with brain metastasis. Anticonvulsants are usually required in addition to brain irradiation therapy for disease control. Concurrent chemotherapy or target therapy might have drug interactions with anticonvulsants and alter the effectiveness of such drugs. Such drug interactions are rarely recognized in clinical practice. We report a case with NSCLC complicated with brain metastasis in which the initiation of erlotinib treatment resulted in recurrence of seizure due to a decreased blood phenytoin level.
Key words: Erlotinib, anticonvulsant, brain metastasis, phenytoin, non-small cell lung cancer.