NEGLIGIBLE HEMOSTATIC TOXICITY OF INTERMEDIATE-DOSE ERWINASE IN ADULTPATIENTS WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA - PRELIMINARY DATA

The hemostatic toxicity oflow dose L-asparaginase from Erwinia carotov ora (Erwinase) has been reported to be negligible in adult patients wi th acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); conversely, no consistent data have been obtained when Erwinase is administered at intermediate doses . We report preliminary clinical and laboratory hemostatic data from 1 0 adult patients with ALL treated during induction phase with intermed iate doses of Erwinase (20,000 IU/m(2)s.c. every other day, for a tota l of six administrations). No thrombotic or hemorrhagic events were re gistered and the mean values of PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, antithrombin and D-dimer did not change during treatment. Only one patient showed a de crease of antithrombin (48% on day 8) requiring temporary suspension o f Erwinase therapy. These data suggest that intermediate doses of Erwi nase also have negligible hemostatic toxicity in adult patients with A LL.