A case report of hyperammonemic encephalopathy induced by high-dose continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil in a patient with rectal cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hyperammonemic encephalopathy caused by high-dose infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a rare adverse reaction in rectal cancer patients with an incidence rate of 5.7%. Although the patient could be restored to normal after supportive treatments, the occurrence of this side effect was still inevitable. Therefore, we analyzed the data of patients during chemotherapy and combined with relevant literature to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of hyperammonia-induced encephalopathy.

Case description

The patient experienced severe consciousness disorders, unresponsive to stimuli, and stiff limbs during two cycles of 5-FU chemotherapy (after 40 hours of infusion), meanwhile the levels of blood ammonia were 117.0 and 349.0 µmol/L, lactate were 9.1 and 7.6

SUBMITTER: Jin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11761313 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature