What is known and objective: Sunitinib can improve progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET). From clinical trial, most commonly reported adverse events of sunitinib were neutropenia (12%), diarrhea (10%), asthenia (7%), erythrodysesthesia (7%), hypertension (7%) and thrombocytopenia (6%).
Case summary: We report a patient with PNET with liver metastases who developed hyperammonemia with a low dosage of sunitinib probably contributed by the presence of liver metastases.
What is new and conclusions: We would like to draw attention to the potential risk of sunitinib induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy even with a low dosage of sunitinib. The absence of sunitinib-induced hyperammonemia during its initial course does not rule out this possibility if there is increased in liver metastases. We suggest checking the ammonia level if patient on sunitinib presented with altered sensorium even if the liver function is normal.
Keywords: hyperammonaemia; neuroendocrine tumours; sunitinibs.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.