mercaptopurine and Mycoses

Modified BFM-90 regimen has significantly improved the outcome of lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents. Infection is the main side effect of this regimen, which may affect the treatment efficacy and prognosis without proper intervention. This study was to summarize the characteristics of the modified BFM-90 regimen related infection, and explore effective approaches to treat the infection.. The infection rate, site, pathogen were reviewed for the infections of 104 children and adolescents suffering from lymphoblastic lymphoma at different phases of the modified BFM-90 regimen. The relationship between chemotherapy, bone marrow suppression and infection was analyzed. The value of procalcitonin (PCT) in identifying the infection type and the outcome of anti-infection treatment was evaluated.. The infection rates in reduction phases Ia, Ib and re-reduction phases IIa, IIb were 52.5%, 60.7% and 48.6%, 28.2%, respectively. The infection rate in consolidation chemotherapy for patients with low to intermediate risk and high risk were 17.2% and 100%, respectively. In total 302 infections occurred. One hundred and sixty-seven cases (55.3%) had documented infection sites, most of which happened to the respiratory tract. Ninety-five cases (31.5%) had documented pathogens, most of which were Gram-negative bacteria. Infections of 262 cases (86.8%) were secondary to bone marrow suppression. The sensitivity and specificity of PCT in diagnosing sepsis were 83.3% and 70.2%, but it failed to identify the infection type. After the anti-infection treatment, 296 cases were cured, four cases gave up further treatment due to financial difficulties, two cases died of sepsis.. Infections caused by modified BFM-90 regimen for lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents are closely correlated to bone marrow suppression. The positive diagnosis rate of the pathogen is too low to identify most of the infection type. The treatment still mainly depends on experience.

Topics: Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asparaginase; Bacterial Infections; Cephalosporins; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross Infection; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Itraconazole; Male; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Mouth Diseases; Mycoses; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Prednisone; Recurrence; Remission Induction; Respiratory Tract Infections; Vincristine

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpesvirus for which latent infection in B lymphocytes occurs in most individuals by middle childhood. Clinically significant reactivation of this virus occurs in the context of suppressed cell-mediated immunity, occasionally developing into lymphoproliferative disease (EBV-LPD). EBV reactivation is rarely associated with intensive chemotherapy alone. Here we present the case of a 4-year-old female who developed EBV-LPD as a complication of prolonged immunosuppressive chemotherapy for her multiply-recurrent Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asparaginase; Cytarabine; Doxorubicin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Fatal Outcome; Female; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Infant; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Mycoses; Prednisone; Recurrence; Rituximab; Vinblastine; Vincristine; Virus Activation

The fungus Fusarium moniliforme causes fusariosis, which can be invasive and fatal in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of oral Fusarium infection in a granulocytopenic patient with acute myelogenous leukemia who developed necrotic ulceration of the gingiva, extending to the alveolar bone, but was otherwise free of any active systemic lesions. Fusarium moniliforme was identified, by histopathology and culture, to be present in the lesion and was deduced to be the causative organism for this invasive oral infection.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Aged; Agranulocytosis; Amphotericin B; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cytarabine; Epirubicin; Etoposide; Fatal Outcome; Fusarium; Gingival Diseases; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Maxillary Diseases; Mercaptopurine; Mycoses; Necrosis; Prednisolone; Ulcer; Vindesine

Although definite improvement in the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia has taken place, the outlook for patients remains grim. The current aggressive approach to treatment, entailing a program of chemotherapy which almost invariably produces bone marrow aplasia and considerable toxicity, has been the subject of some controversy. Selected aspects of management are discussed.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Blood Transfusion; Cell Division; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Drug Evaluation; Drug Synergism; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Infection Control; Kinetics; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Mycoses; Prednisone; Pseudomonas Infections; Remission, Spontaneous; Thioguanine; Vincristine

Infections in the immunosuppressed cancer patient are caused by a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa; many of these in the normal individual are saprophytes but will cause disease in the immunosuppressed patient, often with treatment failure. Patterns of infection are recognized, and this should enable the physician to plan a meaningful course of action when infection occurs in the compromised host. Obviously, it would be much better to prevent rather than have to treat infection in these immunosuppressed patients. Ideally, in the future, it is hoped that drugs which have less suppressive effect on defense mechanisms will provide a partial solution to the problem of infection in the immunosuppressed patient.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Alkylating Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Azathioprine; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Folic Acid Antagonists; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunosuppression Therapy; Immunosuppressive Agents; Infections; Lymphocytes; Mercaptopurine; Mycoses; Neoplasms; Phagocytosis; Protozoan Infections; Virus Diseases

Topics: Adolescent; Blood Cell Count; Bone Marrow Examination; Cytarabine; Eosinophilia; Female; Humans; Karyotyping; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Mercaptopurine; Mycoses; Sulfamethoxazole; Thioguanine; Trimethoprim; Vincristine

Topics: Adolescent; Agranulocytosis; Candida; Child; Child, Preschool; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous; Escherichia coli; Female; Fever; Humans; Infant; Infections; Leukemia; Male; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Mycoses; Pneumonia; Prednisone; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Remission, Spontaneous; Sepsis; Staphylococcus; Time Factors; Vincristine

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Colchicine; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Mercaptopurine; Mycoses; Prednisolone; Pregnancy; Time Factors