# Capecitabine-Induced Leukoencephalopathy: A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case report describes a rare neurological side effect of capecitabine, a cancer drug, and shows improvement after stopping the drug.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in reporting a rare case of leukoencephalopathy after the first cycle of capecitabine treatment.

## Key findings

- A young man developed leukoencephalopathy after the first cycle of capecitabine.
- Discontinuation of capecitabine led to clinical and radiological improvement.
- Neurologic complications from capecitabine, though rare, can be reversible.

## Abstract

Capecitabine, an antineoplastic agent, is an orally active fluorinated pyrimidine that is metabolized to the active form, fluorouracil (FU), by the enzyme thymidine phosphorylase. Neurologic complications secondary to capecitabine are uncommon, especially leukoencephalopathy, which develops shortly after starting treatment, is quite rare. This report details a young man who developed this complication after receiving just the first cycle, and discontinuation of the causative agent led to clinical and radiological improvement.