RISK-FACTORS FOR TYPHLITIS - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

A case-control study was undertaken to identify risk factors for typhl itis in patients with hematological malignancies. A data base file wit h a total of 410 episodes of fever and neutropenia in patients cared f or between May 1987 and 1996 was reviewed. Typhlitis was defined as a symptom complex of fever, intense abdominal pain and tenderness in the presence of neutropenia. Five cases of typhlitis were identified. Thr ee controls for every patient were randomly selected from the same coh ort. Diarrhea and jaundice were more frequent in patients than in cont rols (p=0.03). The presence of mucositis, prolonged duration of profou nd neutropenia and idarubicin treatment proved to be risk factors for typhlitis.