Hepatotoxicity in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Serial liver function tests and percutaneous liver biopsies were performed on 21 children receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The patients received continuing chemotherapy either with daily 6-mercaptopurine and weekly methotrexate or with five-day pulses of these drugs every three weeks. Liver function tests were transiently abnormal in the majority of children, but the abnormalities bore no relationship to the histology of the liver biopsy. Mild inflammatory and fatty changes were commonly seen, and early portal fibrosis was found in three out of 16 patients biopsied at between 108-130 weeks on treatment. There was no correlation between treatment regime and results of biopsy. Three patients showed possible progression of abnormalities on repeat biopsy. The risk of development of portal fibrosis appears low after 2-3 years of continuing chemotherapy, but examination of liver histology may be indicated if more prolonged therapy is contemplated.