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Adverse prognostic influence of hepatitis b virus infection in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Author(s) -
Ratner Lee,
PeylanRamu Nili,
Wesley Robert,
Poplack David G.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19860901)58:5<1096::aid-cncr2820580519>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , hepatitis b virus , liver function , population , liver function tests , gastroenterology , prednisone , hepatitis , hepatitis b , immunology , cancer , virus , environmental health
Liver function test abnormalities were examined in a retrospective survey in a population of 90 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated in a similar fashion with therapy, using primarily methotrexate, mercaptopurine, vincristine, and prednisone. A twofold or greater elevation of serum glutamyl pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) was found in 80% of the patients during induction therapy, in 63% of the patients during maintenance therapy, and 31% of the patients who completed therapy. Circulating hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) was noted in 26% of patients with liver function test abnormalities during maintenance therapy, and 45% of patients with liver function test abnormalities after the completion of therapy. Hepatitis B virus infection was therefore, the most important single cause of abnormal liver function during remission in our patient population. Though others have asserted that hepatitis B virus infection is relatively benign in immunosuppressed individuals, in our population, this agent often caused severe pathological and clinical sequelae. This may be related to the high frequency (50%) of co‐infection with the delta agent in our HBsAg‐positive patients. Furthermore, hepatitis B virus surface antigenemia conferred an adverse prognostic influence for these children in terms of their leukemia‐free survival. Cancer 58:1096‐1100, 1986.