title: Bleeding and thrombosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, treated according to the ALL-BFM-90 protocol.
abstract: A multi-center retrospective survey was conducted to evaluate the incidence and types of hemostatic complications occurring in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during treatment according to the ALL-BFM-90 treatment protocol. All of the BFM-treatment centers (n = 77) were approached and a 95% response rate with information on 1100 patients was obtained. Thrombotic or bleeding episodes occurred in 31 patients (2.8%), 19 of whom had thrombosis and 12 bleeding complications, involving the central nervous system (42%), the subclavian vein (29%), the gastro-intestinal tract, skin, lower extremities or pelvis (29%). Recovery was noted in 28 of 31 patients, while 3 died as a result of hemostatic complications. Bleeding or thrombosis occurred in patients receiving prophylactic substitution with plasma or plasma-derived concentrates (n = 16) as well as in those without substitution (n = 13). The majority of hemostatic complications (90%) occurred during the induction therapy of the treatment protocol, in particular during the period which included simultaneous administration of glucocorticoids and E. coli L-asparaginase. The concurrent administration of E. coli L-asparaginase and glucocorticoids may be an additional risk factor for thromboembolic events during therapy according to the ALL-BFM-90 protocol.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sutor
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mall
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001215:Asparaginase