Influence of Methotrexate Consolidation Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on the Result of Treatment [Article in Serbian]

Abstract

In this article we present the results of treatment for 24 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who were treated on the hematooncology ward of the Children's clinic, Clinical Center Banja Luka in the period from January 1st 1990 to the end of 2005. The chil dren were divided into two groups, according to the therapy protocol they received. In the first group were children treated with protocol Yu ALL 0187 in the period from January 1st 1990 until December 31 st 1995. In the second group were the children treated with protocol Yu 0195 (introduction of high doses of methotrexate). We compared results by the following criteria at the time of establishment of diagnosis: symptomatology, duration of symptoms, clinical and laboratory findings, and also the survival rate of the patients. The survival rate for the period of follow-up of the patients for the first group (protocol Yu ALL 0187) was 61.5%. For the second group (protocol Yu ALL 0195) the survival rate was 84% which is statistically significant, and it speaks in favour of the improvement of therapy by the introduction of methotrexate as consolidation therapy.