Abstract
The case records of 99 consecutive children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who received either 6-thioguanine (6-TG) or 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) as maintenance therapy for at least 1 year were reviewed for hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD). Overall, 12% of those on 6-TG developed VOD (all boys). Isolated persistent thrombocytopenia appeared to be the earliest indicator of incipient VOD. Multivariate analysis identified male sex and 6-TG as risk factors. In all cases, VOD was mild and reversible on withdrawing 6-TG or replacing it with 6-MP. The data implicate a sex-linked polymorphic variation in xenobiotic pathways of thiopurine metabolism in the pathogenesis of VOD.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 100-102 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | British Journal of Haematology |
Volume | 123 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2003 |
Keywords
- 6-mercaptopurine
- 6-thioguanine
- Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
- Childhood
- Veno-occlusive disease