Eribulin and Confusion: A Previously Unknown Drug Side-Effect.

UNLABELLED: Eribulin is an antineoplastic agent used in advanced breast cancer refractory to anthracycline and taxane treatment regimens. A wide variety of side effects with unclear mechanisms have been noted, but encephalopathy has not been widely reported. Here we describe the case of a middle-aged woman treated with eribulin for advanced breast cancer who subsequently developed central nervous system drug-induced toxicity but improved promptly with steroid administration.

LEARNING POINTS: Eribulin-induced encephalopathy is a diagnosis of exclusion and should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients treated with eribulin and presenting with altered mental status.Eribulin can cross the blood-brain barrier.Steroids and drug cessation should be the mainstay of treatment in cases of eribulin-induced encephalopathy.