[Aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head in cancer patients with neuropathies caused by vincristine and vinblastine].

Aseptic osteonecrosis has been described in many and dissimilar pathologic conditions--most frequently as the aftermath of fractures or dislocations; in falciform anemia, obesity, alcoholism; in diseases requiring constant and heavy corticosteroid therapy, and also following renal transplantation. Many of these pathologies, especially alcoholism, diabetes, uremia, and collagen vascular diseases, have a common denominator: peripheral neuropathy, which is believed to be a pathogenetic factor supporting osteonecrosis. The authors analyze 3 cases of aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head in cancer patients treated with vincristine and/or vinblastine. Since in these subjects severe and persistent neuropathy preceded the onset of osteonecrosis, a possible relationship is postulated between the vincristine/vinblastine treatment and the onset of femoral head osteonecrosis, through the pathogenetic mechanism of peripheral neuropathy.