Severe hypertensive reactions to teniposide (VM-26) in infants with congenital leukemia.

Two cases of infants with congenital leukemia who had severe, refractory hypertensive reactions to teniposide (VM-26) are described. Patients on a 5 mg/kg twice weekly schedule of teniposide had hypertensive reactions in which their systolic blood pressure was greater than 200 mm Hg after the second dose of teniposide. Hypertension combined with myelosuppression resulted in the patient's death in one case. Although the exact mechanism of this unusual toxicity of teniposide remains unknown, it might be an age-specific problem, considering the very young age of our patients. Meticulous monitoring of vital signs, including blood pressure, is mandatory in leukemic infants receiving teniposide.