OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Huangqi injection on the infection factors in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during remission induction chemotherapy.

METHODSNinety-one children with ALL were divided into treatment (n=47) and control groups (n=44) by a randomized double-blind method. During remission induction chemotherapy, the treatment group was given Huangqi injection (0.5 mL/kg·d) for 35 days, while an equal volume of normal saline was used instead in the control group; the other supportive care was the same for the two groups. After remission induction chemotherapy, the incidence of infection, duration of infection, white blood cell and neutrophil counts, site of infection, and positive rate of pathogenic bacteria in secretion were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSFour cases in the treatment group dropped out of the study due to allergic reaction. After remission induction chemotherapy, compared with the control group, the treatment group had a significantly lower incidence of infection (P<0.05), a shorter duration of infection at any site (P<0.05), a higher neutrophil count after chemotherapy (P<0.05), and lower incidence rates of respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, blood infection, and skin and soft tissue infections (P<0.05). Gram-negative bacteria were the main pathogens. Among the infected children, the positive rate of pathogenic bacteria in secretion was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHuangqi injection may reduce bone marrow suppression caused by chemotherapy drugs and increase neutrophil count during remission induction chemotherapy to reduce the incidence and duration of infection in children with ALL.