RELAPSE RATE AFTER CESSATION OF THERAPY IN CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA

ABSTRACT. The experience of four hundred and ninety children from the Nordic countries who had their antileukemic therapy stopped prior to January 1981 is presented. The observation times after stopping therapy were between 1 month and 19 years. One hundred and five children (21.4%) relapsed before January 1981. No children relapsed later than four years after cessation of therapy. The calculated long term relapse rate is 28%.     

RELAPSE RATE AFTER CESSATION OF THERAPY IN CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA

Abstract. Johansen, O. J. & Moe, P. J. (Department of Paediatrics, University of Trondheim, Norway). Relapse rate after cessation of therapy in childhood leukemia. A follow-up report on 277 cases from the five Nordic countries. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69: 663, 1980. —Two hundred and seventy-seven children from the Nordic countries who had their antileukemic therapy stopped before January 1979 were surveyed. The children were in remission when therapy was discontinued. So far 64 (23.1%) have relapsed. Central nervous system (CNS) and testicular leukemia have been a problem, but CNS-prophylaxis has been in common use in the Nordic countries only since 1972–1973. Most of the patients relapsed during the first year after stopping therapy, whereas no patient relapsed later than 4 years after cessation of therapy.