[Convulsions during treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children].

Background: The prevalence of seizures in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) varies between 3 and 13% depending on the various studies, whereas it is 1% in the general population aged under 15 years etiopathogenesis and outcome of seizures in children during treatment for ALL.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in 204 children with a consecutive diagnosis of ALL, 89 females and 115 males, aged between 5 months and 17 years and 11 months, diagnosed between 15-4-1988 and 15-4-1998, and treated at the Division of Pediatric Oncology and Pediatric Hematology of Turin University using three successive generations of AIEOP protocols 88 (48 cases), 91 (86 cases) and 95 (70 cases). Observation of the patients in the study ended on 30-9-1998.

[Polyamine evaluation in serum and erythrocytes of pediatric patients with neoplasms].

Background: As previous studies demonstrated, free polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) are increased in neoplastic tissue and in body fluid (blood, urine and spinal fluid) of patients with tumours in various localization. In pediatric oncology, there aren't many specific markers useful to screen subjects at risk of developing cancer or to follow-up after treatment. For these reasons, polyamines' levels in plasma and erythrocytes have been evaluated in three groups of patients: healthy, with acute leukemia and with solid tumour.