[Preliminary evaluation of adverse effects after administration of arabinoside cytosine (Ara-C) in high doses to children with acute myelogenous leukemia].

Five children with AML were treated with high-doses of Ara-C (2 g/m2) during consolidation. After 17 cycles the toxicity was evaluated. Granulocytopenia (< 0.5 x 10(9)/l) and thrombocytopenia (< 25 x 10(9)/l) were stated after 15/17 and 13/17 cycles respectively. The nadir of bone marrow suppression appeared between day 10 and 14. In one case treatment related death during severe myelosuppression was noted. In individual cases jaundice with elevated activity of aminotransferases, paralytic ileus and pulmonary oedema were observed. All these adverse reactions were reversible. Other toxicities such as nausea/vomiting, stomatitis, diarrhea, infections and drug related fever were transient. No neurologic toxicity was seen. There is a need for developing a new way of the administration of high-dose Ara-C which could substantially reduce toxicity of the drug.