[Painful hyperexcitability syndrome with oxaliplatin containing chemotherapy. Clinical features, pathophysiology and therapeutic options].

The platinum derivative oxaliplatin is widely used in colorectal cancer. Its side effects differ from those of the other platinum compounds cisplatin and carboplatin. An acute, painful hyperexcitability syndrome (HES) accompanied by cold induced paresthesia, dysesthesia and myotonia is unique to oxaliplatin, whereas a chronic, peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) can be caused by all platinum compounds. It is believed that HES is the result of peripheral nerve hyperexcitability as a consequence of voltage-gated sodium channel dysfunction, which may be caused by calcium level imbalance. Therapeutic options for HES are the administration of calcium and magnesium, the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine and the thiophosphate amifostine.