PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sokolov, Elisaveta
AU  - Karschnia, Philipp
AU  - Benjamin, Reuben
AU  - Hadden, Robert D M
AU  - Elwes, Robert C D
AU  - Drummond, Lee
AU  - Amin, Devyani
AU  - Paiva, Vitor
AU  - Pennisi, Alex
AU  - Herlopian, Aline
AU  - Frigault, Matthew
AU  - Sanderson, Robin
AU  - Inam, Shafqat
AU  - Cole, Andrew J
AU  - Dietrich, Jorg
TI  - Language dysfunction-associated EEG findings in patients with CAR-T related neurotoxicity
AID  - 10.1136/bmjno-2020-000054
DP  - 2020 Jun 01
TA  - BMJ Neurology Open
PG  - e000054
VI  - 2
IP  - 1
4099  - http://neurologyopen.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000054.short
4100  - http://neurologyopen.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000054.full
SO  - BMJ Neurol Open2020 Jun 01; 2
AB  - Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells (CAR-T) have emerged as a promising immunotherapeutic approach in relapsed/refractory haematolgical malignancies. Broader application is limited by unique toxicities, notably, neurotoxicity (NTX). Language dysfunction is among the most frequent symptoms of NTX, the underlying mechanisms of which remain to be elucidated. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is an important tool to monitor for NTX and may provide insights into language dysfunction.Aim We aimed to characterise language dysfunction and define electroencephalographic signatures after CAR-T cell therapy.Methods We reviewed the clinical presentation and EEG findings of 20 adult patients presenting with language dysfunction after CAR-T cell infusion. The cohort included a subset of patients treated with investigational CD19-directed CAR-T cells for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (n=17), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (n=1), follicular lymphoma (n=1) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (n=1).Results Language dysfunction presented within 14 days of CAR-T cell infusion in 16 (84%) patients. Ten (50%) patients had mild word-finding difficulties and 10 (50%) had marked dysphasia with profound word-finding difficulties; the latter were all associated with generalised rhythmic delta activity or generalised periodic discharges on EEG.Conclusions Language dysfunction after CAR-T cell therapy is associated with generalised EEG abnormalities.