Intracranial hemorrhage and focal seizures secondary to use of L-asparaginase during induction therapy of acute lymphocytic leukemia.

L-Asparaginase is commonly used for induction therapy of acute lymphocytic leukemia of childhood. Severe clinical bleeding secondary to clotting dysfunction has not been previously reported. We observed intracranial hemorrhagic infarcts with focal seizures and hemiparesis associated with clotting abnormalities, including severe hypofibrinogenemia, probably the result of L-asparaginase administered during induction therapy of acute lymphocytic leukemia.