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Maintenance Treatment With Low‐Dose Mercaptopurine in Combination With Allopurinol in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Mercaptopurine‐Induced Pancreatitis
Author(s) -
Zerra Patricia,
Bergsagel John,
Keller Frank G.,
Lew Glen,
Pauly Melinda
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.25841
Subject(s) - mercaptopurine , medicine , allopurinol , acute pancreatitis , pancreatitis , lymphoblastic leukemia , leukemia , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , gastroenterology
Mercaptopurine (6‐mercaptopurine, 6MP) is a mainstay of curative therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and contributes to its 90% overall survival rate. We present two patients with ALL who suffered with severe pancreatitis secondary to 6MP. Through the use of allopurinol in conjunction with reduced dose 6MP, we were able to continue 6MP without further pancreatitis. This report contributes to the small body of literature on 6MP associated pancreatitis in childhood ALL and describes a novel approach to continued use of 6MP during therapy.