Bleeding in children with cancer
Date
2010-07
Authors
Dippenaar, Anel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG)
Abstract
Before the success story of leukaemia treatment started in the
1950s, many patients succumbed to the disease because of severe
haemorrhage. A bleeding tendency is one of the hallmarks of
haematological malignancies such as leukaemia, since together with
anaemia and an increased susceptibility to infection it completes the
picture of bone marrow failure. Almost half of patients with acute
lymphoblastic leukaemia present with bleeding. It can also become
evident when the bone marrow is infiltrated by a non-haematological
malignancy, e.g. neuroblastoma. Thus, easy bruising is one of the St
Siluan early warning signs of childhood cancer, compiled by the South
African Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG). An increased
risk of bleeding during the cancer treatment period is almost always
present, due to the bone marrow suppressive effect of chemotherapy.
Fortunately, death due to bleeding is rare these days.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.cmej.org.za/index.php/cmej
Keywords
Cancer in children -- Bleeding -- Early detection, Haemorrhage in children -- Symptoms, Therapeutic platelet transfusion, Severe bleeding -- Prevention
Citation
Dippenaar, A. 2010. Bleeding in children with cancer. Continuing Medical Education, 28(7):343-346.