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Primary Mold-Active Antifungal Prophylaxis Decreases the Need for Chest Computed Tomography Scans in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

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Abstract

Current guidelines recommend computed tomography (cCT) scans of the chest in children with leukemia following 96 h of the onset of idiopathic neutropenia to eliminate pulmonary invasive fungal infections (IFIs). However, cCT exposes some children who are at a very high risk of developing secondary cancers to radiation. We aimed to determine the effect of antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) with voriconazole (VCZ) on the need for cCT scans in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to eliminate pulmonary IFIs during chemotherapy. We retrospectively screened all patients’ data from their electronic charts. Children who were diagnosed as having ALL before February 2013 and did (AFP group) or did not (NoP group) receive AFP were divided into two groups and compared regarding cCT scans and relapse-mortality rates. Ninety-six children were diagnosed before February 2013 and did not receive primary AFP and 146 children were administered VCZ following a diagnosis of ALL. There were no significant demographic differences between the groups. A total of 128 cCTs had been required in 62 children in the NoP group, compared with 64 cCTs in 52 children in the AFP group. The percentage of the patients who had required at least one chest CT scan and the mean number of cCT scans in the NoP group were significantly higher compared with the AFP group. Proven-probable IFIs and relapse-mortality rates were higher in the NoP group compared with the AFP group. Mold-active AFP revealed a significant decrease in the need for cCT scans in children with ALL.

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Abbreviations

ALL:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

AFP:

Antifungal prophylaxis

cCT:

Chest computed tomography

IFI:

Invasive fungal infection

NoP:

No prophylaxis

PAP:

Primary antifungal prophylaxis

VCZ:

Voriconazole

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatric Hematology, IZMIR, Bornova, Turkey

    Nihal Karadaş, Hamiyet Hekimci Özdemir, Şebnem Önen Göktepe, Dilek Ece & Deniz Yilmaz Karapinar

  2. Katip Çelebi University Medical School, IZMIR, Bornova, Turkey

    Yeşer Yilmaz

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  1. Nihal Karadaş
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Karadaş, N., Özdemir, H.H., Yilmaz, Y. et al. Primary Mold-Active Antifungal Prophylaxis Decreases the Need for Chest Computed Tomography Scans in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 40, 196–203 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-023-01697-4

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