Toxicity of conventional ALL chemotherapy: incidence of short-term adverse effects in 100 children.
The morbidity and mortality due to short-term adverse effects of antileukemic chemotherapy were studied in a follow-up of 100 children with ALL on a conventional regimen. Severe toxic adverse effects were observed in 20%, and they were fatal in 3% of the children. Moderate or mild adverse effects were seen in 68%, and only 12% remained without noticeable side effects. The drugs responsible for the severe adverse effects were vincristine, L-asparaginase, and intrathecal methotrexate. L-Asparaginase was the most hazardous individual agent, being responsible for 1 and probably contributing to other 2 induction deaths. The toxicity as a whole of this conventional ALL chemotherapy regimen could be considered acceptable, except for the mortality, since the adverse effects were temporary and reversible.
Saarinen
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D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D014750:Vincristine; D001215:Asparaginase; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate