title: Frequency of pericardial effusion in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and clinical features of these patients.
abstract: In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of pericardial effusion (PE) in children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Clinical features of patients with effusion were evaluated. For this purpose, we reviewed the medical records of ALL patients who had pretherapy echocardiograms. A total of 90 patients aged between 1.8 and 16.3 years were analyzed retrospectively. In 23 of 90 (25.6%) patients, PE was detected at initial diagnosis. The age of patients with PE ranged between 1.8 and 14.8 years (mean 5.05 ± 3.77 years). The female/male ratio was 9/14. Six (26.1%) patients were T-lineage and 17 (73.9%) were B-lineage ALL. Nine (39%) patients were in standard risk group, 13 (57%) were in median risk group, 1 (4%) patient was in high-risk group. Mean initial white blood cell count was 40.756 ± 38.653/mm(3) (range 23.000-130.000/mm(3)). Mean initial hemoglobin count was 7.3 ± 1.39 gr/dL (range 5.5-10.1 gr/dL), mean initial platelet count was 35.200 ± 26.300/mm(3) (range 4.000-118.000 mm(3)). Size of effusions was between 2 and 6 mm (mean size 3.3 ± 1.8 mm). All patients had normal left ventricular systolic function. In 87% of patients, effusions disappeared in the first 7 days and, in 13%, disappeared between 8th and 15th days of chemotherapy. None of the patients required pericardiocentesis. Cardiac dysfunction did not occur among any of these patients during chemotherapy.   In conclusion, PE is not frequent in childhood ALL. It usually does not cause cardiac impairment. It responds to treatment of leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Hematology Department, Istanbul Goztepe Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. canbolataylin@sbgoztepehastanesi.gov.tr
authors.forename: Aylin Canbolat
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Yusuf Izzet
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Cetin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Timur
authors.forename: Muferet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erguven
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy