title: Steroid withdrawal syndrome during steroid tapering in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a controlled study comparing prednisone versus dexamethasone in induction phase.
abstract: Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive as part of induction therapy a 4-week course of high-dose glucocorticoid, which is either abruptly discontinued or shortly tapered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the signs and symptoms of steroid withdrawal syndrome and performance status (according to Lansky scale) during the 9-day tapering period and 1 week after withdrawal of the steroid in 63 children randomly allocated to receive prednisone or dexamethasone as part of induction treatment according the AIEOP ALL 2000 protocol. Twenty of 28 (75%) patients on dexamethasone versus 18 of 35 (51.4%) on prednisone (P < 0.05) developed at least one steroid withdrawal symptom during the study period. Three or more symptoms were observed in 39.3% (11/28) of the dexamethasone group and 8.6% (3/35) of the prednisone group (P < 0.05). Dexamethasone patients developed clinical signs earlier (within 3 days from the steroid tapering) than symptomatic prednisone patients. In the prednisone group, the symptoms were less severe and the performance status was higher (P < 0.05). Steroid withdrawal morbidity in ALL children during induction is a frequent and clinically relevant complaint. A more gradual (for dexamethasone) or a more prolonged (for prednisone) tapering might be suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Onco-Hematology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saracco
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bertorello
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farinasso
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Einaudi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barisone
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Altare
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corrias
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pastore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011241:Prednisone