mercaptopurine and Chickenpox

Topics: Alkanesulfonates; Amidines; Bone Marrow Examination; Chickenpox; Child; Child, Preschool; Cyclophosphamide; Drug Therapy, Combination; gamma-Globulins; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Male; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Nervous System Diseases; Phenyl Ethers; Physician-Patient Relations; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Prednisone; Pseudomonas Infections; Recurrence; Testicular Neoplasms; Vincristine

Topics: Adolescent; Chickenpox; Crohn Disease; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Male; Mercaptopurine; Pneumonia, Viral; Prednisone; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Risk Factors; Sulfasalazine

A total of 44 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were immunized against chickenpox with the Oka/Merck strain live attenuated varicella vaccine. Of these children, 24 continued oral chemotherapy with 6-mercaptopurine during the immunization period and 20 had suspension of all chemotherapy for 1 week before and 1 week after the vaccine. Seroconversion, as determined by the detection of fluorescent antibody to membrane antigens, occurred in 91% and did not differ between patients continuing 6-mercaptopurine from those in whom chemotherapy was suspended. Fever and/or rash occurred in less than one third of vaccinated children. Unexpected reactions occurred in two vaccinated children, one from each group, both of whom had low absolute lymphocyte counts (less than 750/microL) on the day of immunization. Vaccine-induced immunity appeared effective in preventing or modifying chickenpox after exposure to natural disease.

Topics: Adolescent; Chickenpox; Chickenpox Vaccine; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Male; Mercaptopurine; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Viral Vaccines

42 patients with ALL were treated according to the following protocol: induction with vincristine + prednisone (+/- L-asparaginase), CNS-prophylaxis with cranial irradiation (2400 rads) and intrathecal methotrexate, maintenance for 3 years with 6-MP 50 mg/m2/d p.o. + MTX 75-150 mg/m2/2 wk i.v. X 4, alternating in a cyclic fashion with 6-MP 50 mg/m2/d p.o. + cyclophophshamide 600 mg/m2/2 wk i.v. X 4. The observation time is 24-67 (median 49) months. The actuarial complete remission curve shows 40% continuous complete remissions at 36 months and 30% at 60 months.--The frequency and temporal distribution of typical infectious complications are presented. The incidence of varicella was comparable to that in a southgerman normal control group (5,7% per year). During treatment there were two zoster manifestations per one varicella case, the incidence of zoster being 1 case per 106 patient-months, viz 11,4% per year.

Topics: Adolescent; Asparaginase; Chickenpox; Child; Child, Preschool; Cyclophosphamide; Female; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Infant; Injections, Spinal; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Male; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Prednisone; Remission, Spontaneous; Skull; Vincristine

Topics: Age Factors; Asparaginase; Chickenpox; Child, Preschool; Counseling; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Daunorubicin; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Humans; Injections, Spinal; Leukemia; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Patient Care Planning; Pediatrics; Physician-Patient Relations; Prednisone; Prognosis; Sex Factors; Vincristine

Topics: Acute Disease; Chickenpox; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate

Topics: Acute Disease; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Blood Transfusion; Chickenpox; Child; Female; gamma-Globulins; Humans; Leukemia; Mercaptopurine; Prednisolone; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic

Topics: Chickenpox; Child; Drug Therapy; Leukemia; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Prednisone; Prognosis