[Effects of immunologic markers on prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in young children]

Altogether 77 children aged up to 3 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were examined for the immunological phenotype of blast cells. L1, L1/L2, L2/L1, L2 variants of ALL and the undifferentiated one were established in accordance with criteria of the FAB classification. T1, zero and Ia immunosubvariants were recorded most frequently. Mature cell T2 and pre-B variants (3 and 2 cases, respectively) were rare; B-cellular acute lymphoblastic leukemia was lacking; the "common" subvariant was revealed in 28 patients. The patients' age produced the highest effect on the prognosis: the significantly least disease standing and remissions were noted in a group of children under 2 years as compared to those aged 2 to 3 years. As for immunological markers, expression of Thy1-antigen exerted an unfavourable effect on the prognosis and duration of the first remission.