[2 patients with brain metastases who became pregnant during phenytoin administration].

Abstract

Two young women taking phenytoin because of symptomatic brain metastases are described. Both patients, one with end-stage lung cancer and the other in complete remission after intensive chemotherapeutic treatment of a choriocarcinoma, became pregnant while using oral contraceptives in combination with phenytoin. One patient had the child, but died a year after the metastases became apparent, in the other the pregnancy was terminated. When prescribing phenytoin, attention should be paid to fertility--even in patients with end-stage cancer or after intensive, possibly sterilising, chemotherapeutic treatment.

• Authors: W T van der Graaf, A J van Loon, P E Postmus, D T Sleijfer
• Journal: Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde (Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd) Vol. 136 Issue 45 Pg. 2236-8 (Nov 07 1992) ISSN: 0028-2162 [Print] Netherlands
• Vernacular Title: Twee patiënten met hersenmetastasen die zwanger werden tijdens fenytoïnegebruik.
• PMID: 1331821 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal
• Phenytoin

Topics

• Abortion, Therapeutic
• Adult
• Brain Neoplasms (secondary)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (secondary)
• Choriocarcinoma (secondary)
• Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Drug Antagonism
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (pathology)
• Phenytoin (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic
• Uterine Neoplasms (pathology)