[Treatment of leukemic infiltrations of the central nervous system. Preliminary communication]

In a group of 39 patients with acute leukaemias lumbar taps with intrathecal administration of drugs were done. In 20 cases lumbar tap was done at the time of development of neurological signs. In 19 cases one prophylactic intrathecal drug administration was done. In the treatment of leukaemic infiltrations in the central nervous system three methods were used administering intrathecally methotrexate in the first schedule, methotrexate and cytosine arabinoside in the second schedule, and cytosine arabinoside with Ultracorten in the third schedule. These methods caused usually disappearance of most clinical signs and changes in the cerebrospinal fluid. In 7 cases side effects appeared due to chemical irritation of the meninges but disappeared after several days.