Intracranial bleeding during therapy with L-asparaginase in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia

Two patients developed clinical features of intracranial bleeding--which were confirmed by computerized axial tomograms--during their induction therapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia. Coagulation studies showed clotting abnormalities including severe hypofibrinogenemia. These findings most probably were related to the effect of L-asparaginase which was part of the treatment protocol. Central nervous system leukemia, intrathecal chemotherapy, cranial irradiation, extreme leukocytosis, or thrombopenia at the time of diagnosis or day of stroke did not appear to be predisposing factors in these cases.