[Clinical evaluation of cefpiramide for infections in leukemia and related disorders]

Forty one patients with infections associated with leukemia and related disorders were treated with cefpiramide (CPM). In 26 patients among them, we were able to evaluate the effectiveness of CPM against infections. Fifteen patients were not evaluated, because 6 patients were subjected to additional therapy such as gamma-globulin and other antibiotics, 5 were prophylactically treated, 2 had fever episode which were retrospectively reviewed to be originated from tumor mass, 1 received too short a duration of administration of CPM (2 days) to evaluate its effectiveness, and 1 with whom no precise data were recorded. Excellent responses were observed in 10 patients (38.5%) and good responses in 6 (23.1%) among these 26, with a total efficacy rate of 61.5%. Whereas, we found only one patient who showed an unfavorable side effect out of 31 patients including the 26 and 5 other patients who were prophylactically treated. The side effect observed was a mild bleeding tendency occurred in 77 years old female at 11 days after CPM was administrated. The bleeding tendency was easily diminished with the cessation of CPM treatment and a parenteral use of vitamin K. These results suggest that CPM is an effective and safe antibiotic for the treatment of infections in patients with leukemia and related disorders.