Korean J Pediatr Hematol Oncol.  2003 Oct;10(2):230-235.

Acquired Immunoglobulin Deficiency after Chemotherapy in Childhood Acute Leukemia Patients

• Lee KS
• Lee SM
• Kim JY

Abstract

PURPOSE
Although an increasing number of children with cancer survive as a result of more intense chemotherapy with advanced supportive care, they may be immunosuppressed because of the anticancer chemotherapy with radiotherapy and are susceptible to severe infections. We surveyed the pattern of immunoglobulin deficiency after chemotherapy in childhood acute leukemia with severe infections. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and laboratory reports of 11 acute leukemia patients who developed immunoglobulin deficiency after chemotherapy at the Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, Korea from January 1995 to September 2003. RESULTS: Among 11 acute leukemia patients, the median time interval from the diagnosis of leukemia to that of immunoglobulin deficiency was 21 (2~44) months. At the diagnosis of leukemia, 10 patients had normal levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM. At the diagnosis of immunoglobulin deficiency, 9 patients had low level of IgG (median, 339 mg/dL), IgA (median, 14.1 mg/dL), IgM (median, 24.4 mg/dL), and the other 2 patients had isolated IgG deficiency and isolated IgA deficiency, respectively. They were treated with antibiotics and high dose intravenous immunoglobulin G. CONCLUSION: Acquired immunoglobulin deficiency is one of the causes of frequent and serious infections which develops in childhood acute leukemia with chemotherapy. We suggest that periodic monitoring of immunoglobulin levels is important for early detection and treatment.

Keyword

Immunoglobulin deficiency; Acute leukemia; Chemotherapy

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Child
Daegu
Diagnosis
Drug Therapy*
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Humans
IgA Deficiency
IgG Deficiency
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulins*
Korea
Leukemia*
Medical Records
Pediatrics
Radiotherapy
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulins