Purpose: After the chemotherapy of neoplasms is completed, a change of immunologic function is accompanied. Subsequently, the secondary infection follows frequently and sometimes causes the mortality. The change of immunologic function after completio...
Purpose: After the chemotherapy of neoplasms is completed, a change of immunologic function is accompanied. Subsequently, the secondary infection follows frequently and sometimes causes the mortality. The change of immunologic function after completion of chemotherapy is influenced by the tumor itself and the modality of treatment especially chemotherapeutic agents. We analyzed the change of lymphocyte according to the time sequence after completion of treatment to investigate the immunologic state in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) and solid tumors following the completion of therapy.
Methods: Eight cases of ALL and 6 cases of solid tumors were eligible for the evaluation of immunologic function. They were completed chemotherapy and evaluated the total lymphocyte count and subgroups of lymphocyte for every 6 months.
Results: 1) As time passed after the completion of chemotherapy, the recovery of total lymphocytes count to normal range was statistically high in all ALL and solid tumors (p<0.0001). However, there was no difference between ALL and solid tumors in the recovery of total lymphocyte count. 2) In the subtype of lymphocyte, total B lymphocyte count and T lymphocyte were recovered statistically high in all ALL and solid tumors with the time passage after the completion of chemotherapy (p>0.016, p>0.046, respectively). However, there was no difference between ALL and solid tumors in the recovery of total B and T lymphocyte count. 3) The recovery of the total NK cell count and the T4/T8 ratio were not significantly high with the time passage after the completion of chemotherapy (p>0.27, p>0.11, respectively). In addition, there was no difference between ALL and solid tumors in the recovery of the total NK cell count and the T4/T8 ratio.
Conclusion: As time passed after the completion of chemotherapy, the recovery of total lymphocytes count and the subtype of B and T lymphocyte to normal range was statistically high in all ALL and solid tumors. Although the recovery of the NK cell count and the T4/T8 ratio was not significantly high, generally the immune function was recovered with the time passage after the completion of chemotherapy until 24 months. Therefore, it would be advisable to be cautious infection after the completion of chemotherapy until 24 months.