title: [Acute leukemia in Jehovah's Witnesses].
abstract: Two cases of young patients, Jehova Witnesses (JW), diagnosed as having acute lymphoblastic leukaemia are presented. In one case a complete remission (CR) was obtained, lasting until now, 20 months after diagnosis; the other one died 11 months after diagnosis without achieving a CR. Three important questions can be raised in JW: 1) the absolute respect to patients' wishes; 2) to treat or not to treat; and 3) the pertinent therapy. The answer is yes to 1) and 2), and a slight myelotoxic therapy for the last one.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Hematología Clínica, Hospital General Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona. jabueno@hg.vhebron.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuazu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Villalba
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Julià
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000523:psychology*; D002835:Christianity; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016079:Refusal to Treat; D012074:Remission Induction; D012297:Right to Die; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D001215:Asparaginase; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate; D003630:Daunorubicin