NUTRITIONAL-STATUS IN UNTREATED CHILDREN WITH ACUTE-LEUKEMIA AS COMPARED WITH CHILDREN WITHOUT MALIGNANCY

We evaluated the nutritional status of 173 consecutive children with n ewly diagnosed leukemia compared with that of 307 children with benign acute diseases. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric mea surements including weight, height, weight for height, midarm circumfe rence (MAC) and triceps skinfold (TSF), and by biochemical indices, in particular pre-albumin (TBPA) and retinol-binding protein (REP). On a dmission, no significant differences were found between groups in weig ht, height, weight for height, MAC, and TSF values. TBPA and REP, lowe r than normal in most cases, were not significantly-different in the t wo groups. Furthermore, no differences were observed when children wit h high-risk leukemia were compared with those at standard risk. In con clusion, children with newly diagnosed leukemia do not seem to present significant nutritional depletion, and their nutritional status is si milar to that of children admitted for other nonmalignant acute diseas es. However, nutritional indices should be monitored in children with high-risk leukemia because treatment intensity is likely to result in a malnutritional status later, which might be prevented by early adequ ate nutritional support.