DEXAMETHASONE IN THE TREATMENT OF MENINGEAL LEUKEMIA

To determine if dexamethasone has a role in the treatment of meningeal leukemia, 8 consecutive patients with acute lymphoblastic and signs o r symptoms of CNS were included in the study, After the confirmation o f leukemic blast cells on cerebrospinal fluid, they received intrathec al and IV dexamethasone; 3 days later the patients received ''triple'' intrathecal chemotherapy with dexamethasone, methotrexate and cytarab ine, and the spinal fluid was studied again, All patients had good cli nical response and 7 out of the 8 patients showed reduction on the CSF cell count after the use of dexamethasone alone, The results suggest that dexamethasone is a lympholytic agent that could play a more activ e role in the prevention and therapy of meningeal leukemia and should be preferred over hydrocortisone in the so called ''triple'' intrathec al chemotherapy for the prevention and treatment of CNS leukemia. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.