Background: Despite the known association between cisplatin and vascular toxicity, the mechanism
of cisplatin-associated cerebral infarction, a relatively rare complication, remains
unclear. We describe an investigation of potential biomarkers that could facilitate
the early detection of this complication in a relevant case. Case Description: A 59-year-old
male diagnosed with stage III carcinoma of the external auditory canal underwent cisplatin
chemotherapy. Seven days after the last dose, he presented with a disturbance of consciousness
due to basilar artery occlusion, which was associated with chemotherapy administration.
The patient recovered consciousness after thrombectomy. Interestingly, an increase
in serum von Willebrand factor (vWf) activity was observed. The vWf activity level
gradually normalized 5 months after cisplatin administration. Conclusions: Endothelial injuries could be responsible for cisplatin-associated cerebral infarction.
Moreover, a cisplatin-induced cerebral infarction increase in serum vWf activity,
which indicates endothelial injury, suggests that this molecule might be a useful
biomarker for predicting cisplatin-associated cerebral infarction.
Key-words:
Cerebral infarction - cisplatin - vascular toxicity - von Willebrand factor
