Klin Onkol 2000; 13(6): 194-195.
Summary: In last 8 years 283 children with acute leukemia or MDS were treated in our department. ARDS developed in 13 cases of children treated for hematologic malignity, it represents 4,6% of all children.There were 7 children treated for AML, 5 for ALL, 1 for MDS. Clinical symptoms of ARDS were: tachypnea, dyspnea, partial respiratory insufficiency and intersticial lung changes on chest X - ray. Together with ARDS the febrile neutropenia was present in all cases. Most patients developed
ARDS as a consequence of induction chemotherapy. In 6 patients bolus of steroids was given. Mechanical ventilation needed 11 of the patients. Five children died, all with the diagnosis AML. ARDS resolved in 6 ventilated and 2 nonventilated patients. Incidence of ARDS seems to increase with the use of more agressive chemotherapy.
