Abstract
A number of neurological disturbances occur during the treatment of childhood malignancies
with cytotoxic drugs like vincristine, methotrexate, cytosine-arabinoside, cyclophosphamide,
asparaginase and others. Neurological complications range from peripheral neuropathy,
myopathy, myelopathy to encephalopathy with methotrexate induced encephalopathy leading
to permanent brain damage or death in most cases. Irradiation of the brain can produce
transient or permanent brain damage by a direct effect on nervous tissue and by altering
the blood brain barrier or the blood circulation.
The many conflicting reports concerning the quality of life of long-term survivors
of childhood leukaemia do not give sufficient data for final conclusions. The experiences
we have encountered over the past ten years seem to confirm the optimistic echo from
others.
There is, however, an urgent need for a prospective study to answer the all important
question: will a child suffering from leukemia emerge physically and mentally unharmed
after long and aggressive treatment?
Key words
ALL-therapy - neurotoxicity - methotrexate - vincristine - cytosine-arabinoside -
cyclophosphamide - asparaginase
