Mortality in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Hematology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a significant health concern in children.
• Tertiary care facilities play a crucial role in managing complex paediatric cancers.
• Identifying mortality patterns is essential for optimizing treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the primary causes of death among children diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.
• To analyze treatment-related mortality in paediatric AML cases at a tertiary care center.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of paediatric AML cases registered between January 1, 2012, and January 31, 2019.
• Data collected from medical records at the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
• Statistical analysis performed using SPSS 23.

Main Results:

• A total of 206 paediatric AML cases were analyzed; 63.1% were male.
• Treatment-related mortality was 31.5% (65 out of 206 patients).
• Infections were the leading cause of death, particularly during induction chemotherapy and post-induction phases, often leading to multi-organ failure.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a high rate of treatment-related mortality in paediatric AML.
• Infections represent a critical challenge, necessitating improved preventative and management strategies.
• Further research is needed to reduce mortality and improve survival outcomes in paediatric AML.