Metronidazole Toxicity in Cockayne Syndrome: A Case Series.

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by small stature, intellectual disability, and accelerated pathologic aging. Through the Cockayne Syndrome Natural History Study, we have identified 8 cases of acute hepatic failure after metronidazole administration (8% of our cohort), 3 of which were fatal. The interval between initial administration and death was 6 to 11 days. Two of these patients also experienced acute neurologic deficit. Both hepatotoxicity and acute neurologic deficit have been reported previously as extremely rare adverse events after metronidazole administration. However, we have not identified any patients with CS who have received metronidazole without serious adverse effects. We recommend that a diagnosis of CS be considered an absolute contraindication to the use of metronidazole.

Vascular imaging of solid tumors in rats with a radioactive arsenic-labeled antibody that binds exposed phosphatidylserine.

PURPOSE: We recently reported that anionic phospholipids, principally phosphatidylserine, become exposed on the external surface of vascular endothelial cells in tumors, probably in response to oxidative stresses present in the tumor microenvironment. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds phosphatidylserine could be labeled with radioactive arsenic isotopes and used for molecular imaging of solid tumors in rats. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Bavituximab was labeled with (74)As (beta(+), T(1/2) 17.8 days) or (77)As (beta(-), T(1/2) 1.6 days) using a novel procedure. The radionuclides of arsenic were selected because their long half-lives are consistent with the long biological half lives of antibodies in vivo and because their chemistry permits stable attachment to antibodies. The radiolabeled antibodies were tested for the ability to image subcutaneous Dunning prostate R3227-AT1 tumors in rats. RESULTS: Clear images of the tumors were obtained using planar gamma-scintigraphy and positron emission tomography. Biodistribution studies confirmed the specific localization of bavituximab to the tumors. The tumor-to-liver ratio 72 h after injection was 22 for bavituximab compared with 1.5 for an isotype-matched control chimeric antibody of irrelevant specificity. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the bavituximab was labeling the tumor vascular endothelium. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that radioarsenic-labeled bavituximab has potential as a new tool for imaging the vasculature of solid tumors.