Acute encephalopathy during induction therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Twenty-one children who suffered an acute encephalopathic illness during induction chemotherapy for ALL are described. Convulsions and coma were a major feature of this illness. In the absence of other predisposing factors we feel that the encephalopathy was secondary to drug toxicity. Two children died, and 4 of the surviving children have also died. Modifications of antileukemic therapy because of encephalopathic illness may have had a part to play in the outcome for some of these children. The surviving children appear to be neurologically and developmentally normal.