BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Modified BFM-90 regimen has significantly improved the outcome of lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents. Infection is the main side effect of this regimen, which may affect the treatment efficacy and prognosis without proper intervention. This study was to summarize the characteristics of the modified BFM-90 regimen related infection, and explore effective approaches to treat the infection. METHODS The infection rate, site, pathogen were reviewed for the infections of 104 children and adolescents suffering from lymphoblastic lymphoma at different phases of the modified BFM-90 regimen. The relationship between chemotherapy, bone marrow suppression and infection was analyzed. The value of procalcitonin (PCT) in identifying the infection type and the outcome of anti-infection treatment was evaluated. RESULTS The infection rates in reduction phases Ia, Ib and re-reduction phases IIa, IIb were 52.5%, 60.7% and 48.6%, 28.2%, respectively. The infection rate in consolidation chemotherapy for patients with low to intermediate risk and high risk were 17.2% and 100%, respectively. In total 302 infections occurred. One hundred and sixty-seven cases (55.3%) had documented infection sites, most of which happened to the respiratory tract. Ninety-five cases (31.5%) had documented pathogens, most of which were Gram-negative bacteria. Infections of 262 cases (86.8%) were secondary to bone marrow suppression. The sensitivity and specificity of PCT in diagnosing sepsis were 83.3% and 70.2%, but it failed to identify the infection type. After the anti-infection treatment, 296 cases were cured, four cases gave up further treatment due to financial difficulties, two cases died of sepsis. CONCLUSIONS Infections caused by modified BFM-90 regimen for lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents are closely correlated to bone marrow suppression. The positive diagnosis rate of the pathogen is too low to identify most of the infection type. The treatment still mainly depends on experience.
