Causes of mortality in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia
Choudhry, V.P.; Krishnamurthy, L.; Arya, L.S.; Desai, N.; Pati, H.
Indian Pediatrics 29(6): 709-713
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 1500128 Document Number: 323908
New developments in case management presently afford cures to more than 60% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). 287 children diagnosed with ALL were admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences over the period January, 1982 - September, 1989, where they began chemotherapy. 50 died during initial or subsequent induction therapy and 5 died during the maintenance phase. All deaths were subsequently reviewed to identify the causes of mortality. Infection alone caused death in 47.3% of cases, hemorrhage was observed among 12.7%, and infection together with hemorrhage killed another 13 children. Septicemia, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary infections in 11, 15, and 10 cases, respectively, and meningitis in 2 cases were major sites or infection. Pseudomonas and Klebsiella in 6 cases each accounted for 54.5% of isolates. The gastrointestinal tract and pulmonary system were major sites of bleeding. While no definite cause of death was found for 5 cases, infections nonetheless either alone or combined with other factors caused 76.5% of deaths. To improve the long-term event free survival of children with ALL, practitioners must be knowledgeable about the potential spectrum of infections, begin treatment early with appropriate antibiotics, and seek to improve the availability of supportive facilities and modern antibiotics.