Objective: To summarize changes of serum
immunoglobulin levels before and after
chemotherapy in children with
Burkitt lymphoma (BL), so as to investigate the effects of
chemotherapy and
rituximab on serum
immunoglobulin levels in children with BL. Methods: Clinical data of 223 children with newly diagnosed
Burkitt lymphoma at Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2009 to April 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. They were treated according to the modified LMB 89 regimen and some of them received combined
rituximab therapy during the
chemotherapy. The serum
immunoglobulin (
IgA,
IgM,
IgG) before
chemotherapy, at the time of discontinuing
chemotherapy, as well
as 6, 12, 24, 36 months after
chemotherapy were collected. Changes of serum
IgA,
IgM and
IgG with time among different treatment groups were compared using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: According to risk group, 223 children were devided into group B(n=53)and group C(n=170). Before
chemotherapy, 109 cases (48.9%) were combined with
hypogammaglobulinemia. The serum
IgA,
IgM, and
IgG levels of all the patients were (0.9±0.7), 1.2 (0.5, 1.3) and (7.2±2.9) g/L before
chemotherapy, (0.5±0.4), 0.2 (0.1, 0.3) and (6.3±2.3) g/L at the time of discontinuing
chemotherapy (t=13.63, Z=-11.99, t=4.57, all P<0.05). There were statistical difference in
IgA,
IgM levels of group B and
IgA,
IgM,
IgG levels of group C before
chemotherapy and at the time of discontinuing
chemotherapy (t=8.86, Z=-6.28, t=11.19, Z=-10.15, t=4.50, all P<0.05). The differences of serum
IgA and
IgG levels at the time after
chemotherapy among patients treated with
chemotherapy alone and those treated with
chemotherapy combined
rituximab in group B and C were significant (F=5.38, P=0.002 and F=4.22, P=0.007). Conclusions: Approximately half of children with BL have already existed
hypogammaglobulinemia at initial diagnosis prior to the start of treatment. The modified LMB 89 regimen have significant effect on humoral immunity of children with BL. In the process of immune reconstruction after
chemotherapy,
rituximab has more significant effect on serum
IgA and
IgG levels in BL patients.