[Immunophenotyping of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Mexican children]. / Inmunofenotipo de la leucemia aguda linfoblástica en niños mexicanos.

PURPOSE: To analyse the immunophenotype of leukaemic cells in a group of children diagnosed of lymphoblastic leukaemia in order to assess the frequency of the different immunologic subtypes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the period comprised between APR 1987 and MAR 1995, 402 Mexican children were studied in a prospective way. Conventional immunological markers were used, either associated to or specific for B, T, myelo-monocytic or megakaryocytic-platelet cell populations. RESULTS: Five major immunologic subtypes were disclosed, showing a series of specific surface markers: null-ALL, 5%; early pre-B, 7.5%; common, 74.6%; B-cell, 3.5%, and T-cell, 9.4%. A net predominance of B-cell precursor CD10- ALL was found in children under one year of age, and of CD10+ B-cells beyond that age. Although there was only slight predominance of male sex, the prevalence of B and TALL in males was not confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the incidence of the different immunologic subtypes of lymphoblastic leukaemias and their distribution according to age and sex are closely similar to those reported among Caucasians in other parts of the world.

[Efficacy of early erythropoietin use in critically ill, very-low-birthweight premature newborn infants: controlled clinical trial]. / Eficacia del uso precoz de eritropoyetina en recién nacidos pretérmino de muy bajo peso, críticamente enfermos: ensayo clínico controlado.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of erythropoietin in very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns less than 72 h of age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We randomly assigned 40 critically ill newborn VLBW infants to receive either recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) 150 units/kg per day (21 patients) or placebo (19 patients) during their first six weeks of life. The observers were unaware of the treatment assignments. Frequency of erythrocyte transfusion, adverse effects and haematologic measures were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Before treatment gestational age, weight, haemoglobin, and pathology were similar in both groups. During the subsequent 6 weeks, haemoglobin and haematocrit of the placebo group fell significantly below those of the EPO recipients. More transfusions were received by the placebo recipients (7/21) than by the EPO recipients (2/21; p = 0.04). No adverse effects of EPO were observed. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the administration of recombinant human erythropoietin since the first 72 h of age, because of the high frequency of anaemia, the efficacy of EPO and lack of side effects.