[Treatment of acute leukemias in adults. V. The effect of intrathecal cytostatic therapy on leukemic changes in the central nervous system]. / Leczenie ostrych bialaczek u doroslych V. Wplyw dokanalowego leczenia cytostatycznego na zmiany bialaczkowe w osrodkowym ukladzie nerwowym.

In a period of 5.5 years from 1975 to 1980 the neurological status of 82 patients with various forms of acute leukaemia was assessed at the Institute of Haematology and in 42 cases central nervous system involvement was found. These patients were treated by intrathecal administration of drugs according to three programmes. Remission after intrathecal treatment was achieved in 31 cases. No improvement of the neurological status was obtained in 31 cases. No improvement of the neurological status was obtained in 4 cases. Forty-eight patients without neurological signs received prophylactically intrathecal treatment which failed to prevent central nervous system leukaemia in 8 cases.

[Treatment of leukemic infiltrations of the central nervous system. Preliminary communication]. / Wstepne wyniki leczenia nacieków bialaczkowych osrodkowego ukladu nerwowego.

In a group of 39 patients with acute leukaemias lumbar taps with intrathecal administration of drugs were done. In 20 cases lumbar tap was done at the time of development of neurological signs. In 19 cases one prophylactic intrathecal drug administration was done. In the treatment of leukaemic infiltrations in the central nervous system three methods were used administering intrathecally methotrexate in the first schedule, methotrexate and cytosine arabinoside in the second schedule, and cytosine arabinoside with Ultracorten in the third schedule. These methods caused usually disappearance of most clinical signs and changes in the cerebrospinal fluid. In 7 cases side effects appeared due to chemical irritation of the meninges but disappeared after several days.