[Polyamines as a prognostic criterion of the duration of clinico-hematologic remission in acute leukemia in children].

The authors reported the results of retrospective analysis of the level of polyamines in urine and the duration of clinicohematological remission in 25 AL children aged 3 to 14. Of this number 23 patients suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 2--from acute myeloblastic leukemia. Direct correlation between polyamine changes during a course of chemotherapy and the duration of remission was established. Longer duration was observed in the patients in whom a 2-fold rise of the level of all polyamines, especially spermidine, followed the administration of a cytostatic within the first 24-72 h. On the discontinuation of therapy a certain decrease in polyamine excretion with urine was observed in these children as compared to the level determined on their admission to hospital.