Painful peripheral neuropathy associated with voriconazole use.

Background: Voriconazole is a new antifungal agent that has been recently introduced into clinical practice. We found no published reports of painful peripheral neuropathy associated with its use.

Objective: To describe a unique case of painful peripheral neuropathy associated with voriconazole use.

Setting: University hospital.

Patient: A 43-year-old patient who had undergone liver transplantation received voriconazole for invasive deep sinus aspergillosis and developed intolerable pain in all extremities.

Results: A laboratory workup and electromyographic and nerve conduction studies were performed to exclude other causes of neuropathy in this complicated patient. Results of electromyographic and nerve conduction studies were suggestive of a demyelinating neuropathy. Symptoms and signs of neuropathy disappeared shortly after voriconazole discontinuation, suggesting a possible role in the development of neuropathy. The patient continues to do well 10 months after this event.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of voriconazole-associated peripheral neuropathy. Awareness of this association and careful monitoring for neurological signs are necessary for patients receiving voriconazole.