[Efficacy of passive and active immunization against HBV infection in children with neoplastic diseases]. / Skutecznosc bierno-czynnej immunizacji przeciw HBV u dzieci z chorobami nowotworowymi.

The efficacy of 3 schemes of passive and active prevention of HBV infection was evaluated in 47 children with haematologic proliferative diseases. Twenty-six children suffering from leukemia (group I) received passive immunisation (hepatitis B immunoglobulin) in six week intervals during intensive chemotherapy and were vaccinated on maintenance therapy. Thirteen children with Hodgkin or B-non-Hodgkin lymphoma (group II) received active immunisation from the beginning of intensive chemotherapy with two doses of immunoglobulin. Eight children who had completed their therapy (group III) were vaccinated only. Among children who completed vaccinations, 5/8 in group I, 4/7 in group II and 5/5 in group III produced protective anti-HBs levels. Passive/active prophylaxis was successful in most patients suffering from neoplastic diseases and reduced the endemy of HBV infection in our department from 43.3% to 2.56% infected subjects. Among 7 patients vaccinated from the beginning of treatment (group II), 4 of them produced protective levels of anti,-HBs, despite intensive chemotherapy.

[Congenital spherocytosis in children]. / Sferocytoza wrodzona u dzieci.

The clinical course and effects of treatment of congenital spherocytosis (CS) were analyzed in 28 children. In 10 cases the disease ran a severe clinical course. Jaundice, anaemia, and splenomegaly were the most frequent clinical signs which were significantly intensified during haemolytic crises. In 14 cases splenectomy was performed, obtaining in all children a regression of jaundice and anaemia. Before the operation two children were vaccinated with Pneumo 23. In asplenic children Debecillin was prophylactically used. Serious infectious complications were observed only in one patient.

[Analysis of prognosis in children with acute leukemia diagnosed in the first two years of life]. / Analiza losów dzieci z ostra bialaczka rozpoznana w pierwszych dwóch latach zycia.

In the years 1975-1989 26 children were treated in hospital for acute leukaemia, who fell ill before completion of the second year of life. The analysis carried out similarly, as in the reports of other authors, showed worse results of treatment of leukaemia in this group of children.

[Histiocytosis X in children--course of the disease and treatment]. / Histiocytosis X u dzieci--przebieg choroby i leczenie.

A clinical analysis was carried out of the course of the disseminated form of the disease in 20 children aged from one month to 8 years (mean age 11 months). Unfavourable prognostic significance was confirmed of such factors as: child's age at the time of falling ill lower than two years, number of the involved organs and their dysfunction, and lacking reaction to treatment during the first three months of the disease.

[Burgdorf's reaction (painful acral erythema) in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia following medium-dose methotrexate therapy]. / Reakcja Burgdorfa ("painful acral erythema") po leczeniu posrednimi dawkami methotreksatu chorych z ostra bialaczka limfoblastyczna.

Erythematous changes of the palms with associated oedema, blistering and desquamation were observed in two children during chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, after methotrexate in doses of 1,000 mg/m2. These changes correspondent to those described in the literature as Burgdorf's reaction. In Poland it was never reported as yet.

[Allergic reactions to teniposide (VM-26) in children with neoplasms]. / Reakcje alergiczne na teniposide (VM-26) u dzieci z choroba nowotworowa.

Allergic reactions of dramatic intensity were observed in 5 children treated with Teniposide (VM-26) for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and histiocytosis X. In the further treatment this drug was replaced with epoxide, a cytostatic agent which is also a podophyllin derivative but in other chemical formulation. In none of these patients the allergic reaction returned.

[Cerebrospinal fluid methotrexate level in children treated with medium-high and high doses of the drug]. / Stezenie metotreksatu w plynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym u dzieci leczonych srednio duzymi i duzymi dawkami leku.

Concentrations of MTX were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid (csf) and serum after intravenous infusion of MTX at intermediate dose (0.5-1.0 g/m2) and at high dose (5.0 g/m2) to 20 children (33 infusions) with ALL/NHL. The cytotoxic concentrations of MTX in csf (> 1.0 microM/l) were reached in half of the cases after the infusion of MTX at intermediate dose and in all patients after the infusion of 5.0 g/m2. Great inpatient and interpatient variations of MTX concentrations in csf were observed. No statistically significant difference was found between mean systemic clearance of MTX in patients with MTXcsf concentrations > 1.0 microM/l and < 1.0 microM/l after infusion of MTX at intermediate dose.

Jaundice following high--dose arabinoside cytosine in a child with acute myelogenous leukemia.

A girl with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) was treated with high dose arabinoside cytosine during consolidation. She developed jaundice twice after the completion of 3 rd and 4 th cycle of the drug. The jaundice was characterized by conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, elevated aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase. The histologic study of the liver showed only infiltration by mononuclear cells in portal space and scarce bile pigment in some hepatocytes. In both cases jaundice receded spontaneously. Now the patient has been in complete remission for 36 months and subsequent liver function tests are normal.

[Lyell's syndrome--possibly drug-induced epidermal necrolysis in a 7-year-old boy]. / Zespól Lyella--prawdopodobnie polekowa martwica naskórka u 7-letniego chlopca.

In a 7-year-old child Lyell's syndrome was observed with extensive bullous epidermal necrolysis with a very severe clinical course. The disease could have been explained as a toxic-allergic reaction to sefril and aspirin taken for pharyngitis.