title: Ara-C fever and infections after high-dose ara-C treatment in pediatric lymphoid malignancies.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the incidence and characteristics of Ara-C-related fever and the frequency and severity of infections after single-drug, high-dose Ara-C treatment (HDAC) in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). A retrospective review was performed of 169 courses of HDAC administered to 57 patients (age 1.8-17.8 years). Procalcitonin values (PCT) were analyzed in a subgroup of 16 patients. Fever during HDAC occurred in 113 of 169 (67%) cases. C-reactive protein (CRP) was elevated in the febrile patients (median 38 mg/L [range 3-150]). PCT was elevated (>0.5 ng/mL) during HDAC in 4 of the 16 evaluated patients. Corticosteroids could inhibit fever (P < 0.001). Myelosuppression after HDAC was prominent: 99% developed neutropenia (<0.5 x 10/L) and 92% thrombocytopenia (<25 x 10/L). An early lymphopenia (median 0.1 x 10/L [range 0.01-0.68]) was seen during the first week. G-CSF was used after 12 of the 169 HDAC courses. A febrile episode occurred after 93 of the 169 (55%) HDAC courses, with no need for intensive care and no deaths. The incidence of viridans streptococcal septicemia was 2 of the 169 cases. Ara-C fever is common, and evaluation with inflammation markers is complicated by the fact that HDAC can induce a moderate release of both CRP and PCT. Profound neutropenia and lymphopenia are causative factors for the high incidence of infections, but the risk of life-threatening complications after HDAC in children in remission of lymphoid malignancies is low, even without prophylactic use of colony-stimulating factors.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Goteborg University, Goteborg, Sweden. torben.ek@medfak.gu.se
authors: Torben
authors: T
authors: Ek
authors: Mirka
authors: M
authors: Pinkava
authors: Jonas
authors: J
authors: Abrahamsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010976:Platelet Count; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D015415:Biomarkers; D003561:Cytarabine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein