title: Recovery of blood B-lymphocytes and serum immunoglobulins after chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Recovery of humoral immunity after cessation of chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated by determining blood leukocyte, lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte, and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and IgG subclasses at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after cessation of chemotherapy for ALL in 14 patients. Blood B-lymphocytes were analyzed with the use of flow cytometry and monoclonal CD20 antibody. At cessation of chemotherapy, the amount of blood B-lymphocytes was subnormal in most patients but increased to normal levels in 1 month after therapy was discontinued. The recovery of serum Ig, which reflect B-cell function, was slower, but occurred by 6 months after therapy was discontinued in most patients. The authors conclude that by 6 months after cessation of chemotherapy for ALL, a sufficiently functioning immune system by these parameters is established and that prophylactic antibiotics can be withdrawn and immunizations started.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alanko
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Pelliniemi
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Salmi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins