Coagulation abnormality as a complication of L-asparaginase therapy in childhood lymphoblastic leukemia
Abstract
Background Bleeding, one of the most common symptoms ofacute leukemia in untreated patients, is mostly due to thrombocy-
topenia as a result of myeloinvasion by leukemic cells. Neverthe-
less, a further contributory factor for the additional hemorrhagic
complication during intensive chemotherapy is the myelosuppressive
effect of most active drugs. L-asparaginase, one of the cytostatics
used during remission induction therapy for childhood of acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), is widely reported to impair the he-
mostatic system.
Objective To determine the influence of shorter courses of L-as-
paraginase (L-Ase) on some of the hemostatic parameters in the
treatment of childhood ALL.
Methods A prospective analytical study was carried out in the
Department of Child Health, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital Jakarta
from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2001 on newly diagnosed ALL pa-
tients with normal liver function tests treated according to our na-
tional ALL protocol which one of its composition contained 6 in-
stead of 9 injections of L-asparaginase.
Results All of 30 children with ALL included in the study, experi-
enced prolongation of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT), and decreased fibrinogen concentra-
tion, markedly during the administration of L-asparaginase. How-
ever, none of the patients had additional hemorrhage or evidence
of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
Conclusion The use of shorter courses of L-asparaginase, 6 in-
jections, in the remission induction chemotherapy of childhood ALL
in our department may reduce the blood clotting factors without
further hemorrhage complication or evidence of DIC
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Accepted 2016-10-10
Published 2016-10-18