title: High-dose methylprednisolone sodium succinate as a single agent in relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
abstract: Twenty children received methylprednisolone (1 g/m2), daily for 5 to 8 days, as initial single agent therapy for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Bone marrow blasts were reduced to less than 5% in 2 and 5-10% in 3 of 12 patients with bone marrow relapses. In 3/9 with central nervous system relapses the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) blasts completely cleared and were reduced in 4 others. In two patients with testicular relapses there was shrinkage of tumour and one patient with a navicular bone relapse became pain free. Toxicity was minimal. These results indicate high-dose methylprednisolone is an effective agent, particularly in the treatment of established central nervous system (CNS) disease and could contribute to early CNS directed therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
authors.affiliation: Children's Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ryalls
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pinkerton
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Meller
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: McElwain
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate