[Leading causes of death during the induction therapy in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]

Leukemias are the leading cause of childhood cancer. In most developed countries 1-2% of patients die during remission induction; however, in developing countries, this figure is higher and the causes of death apparently vary among the populations studied. The aim was to determine the cause of death during remission induction in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the hospital "Dr. Gaudencio González Garza" of Centro Médico Nacional La Raza from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2014.

A retrospective cohort study was carried out and a descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

During the study period, a total of 463 patients with ALL were diagnosed, out of which 5.4% died (n = 25). Among the patients who died, 64% (n = 16) were female and 60% had high-risk clinical features at diagnosis. The main causes of death were septic shock and bleeding.

Early mortality was five times higher than the one reported for developed countries, while the causes of death did not differ. Close monitoring is necessary to detect and promptly treat complications secondary to chemotherapy toxicity in Mexican pediatric patients with ALL.