HIGH-DOSE CYTOSINE-ARABINOSIDE IS A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEPATOSPLENIC CANDIDIASIS IN PATIENTS WITH LEUKEMIA

A retrospective study of hepatosplenic candidiasis in patients with ac ute leukemia from a single centre was performed. The significance of a ge, sex, type of leukemia, dose of cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), durat ion of neutropenia, steroid use and period of therapeutic antibiotics in the development of hepatosplenic candidiasis was analyzed, using lo gistic regression analysis. Nine of 51 patients had hepatosplenic cand idiasis. Ara-C use was highly associated with the development of hepat osplenic candidiasis (p = 0.001); with a high association with a highe r dose (p < 0.0001). On the basis of these results consideration shoul d be given to further trial of antifungal prophylaxis for patients rec eiving high dose Ara-C.