Intensive chemotherapeutic regimens against acute leukemia transiently suppress asthma symptoms but do not lead to long-term relief

In some very rare cases children suffering from a combination of asthma and a malignant disease. This study investigated whether intensive chemotherap y might have a position effect on asthma in these special cases and whether asthma generally relapses after completion of chemotherapy. The authors mo nitored clinical outcome and lung function of 43 children with acute lympho blastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma who recieved chemotherapy at the University Children's Hospital of Greifswald between 1993 and 1998. Cytosta tic chemotherapy was administered according to the German treatment protoco ls. Two of the 43 patients had asthma before leukemia was diagnosed. During the course of chemotherapy, asthma symptoms diminished promptly after begi nning of chemotherapy but asthma was rediagnosed after completion of chemot herapy in both cases. The third patient developed asthmatic symptoms shortl y after completion of chemotherapy for the first time mandatory to perform follow-up lung testings after chemotherapy, especially in patients with ast hma.