[Premonitory blood count changes in the relapse of juvenile acute lymphatic leukemia]

Investigation was done in 80 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) with respect to premonitory changes of peripheral blood cell counts before a hematologica relapse. 38 patients suffered from one or more relapses. Evaluation was done by t-test and Friedmann test. 9 weeks before a relapse there was a significant decrease in thrombocytes numbers demonstrable. Granulocytes numbers and monocytes numbers declined 6 and 3 weeks before the relapse, respectively. The lymphocytes counts had already increased 6 weeks before a relapse. The blood cell counts during intercurrent infections did not interfere with the typical pattern of blood cell counts before a relapse. Also the changes in blood cells found are different from those seen in untreated cases of ALL.