LONG-TERM SIDE-EFFECTS IN CHILDREN RECEIVING ALLOGENEIC BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION IN FIRST COMPLETE REMISSION OF ACUTE-LEUKEMIA

We evaluated the long-term side-effects of allogeneic BMT performed ea rly in the course of childhood acute leukaemia (first complete remissi on and interval between diagnosis and BMT not exceeding 6 months), Thi rteen patients fulfilled these criteria, Conditioning regimens include d TBI in eight cases. Evaluation of growth and pubertal development, o phthalmological examination, assessment of thyroid, cardiac and pulmon ary functions were performed, Neuropsychological evaluation included I Q score, memory tests and cranial MRI, Median follow-up after BMT was 5 years (range 2-10 years), Growth was normal in seven patients. Six p atients experienced a decrease in SD score for height (range -0.1 to - 1.9), Four children were evaluable for puberty: pubertal development w as normal in three children and delayed in one case, Thyroid and left ventricular function were normal in all cases, Three patients had mild abnormalities of pulmonary function, In two patients cataracts were n oted 7 and 10 years after fTBI, Mean full-scale IQ score was 102, Memo ry tests, performed in 12 cases, were in the normal range for 11 patie nts, In our study, frequency and severity of longterm side-effects fol lowing BMT for leukemia appeared lower than usually reported, A possib le explanation is that children were transplanted very early in the co urse of their disease with neither cranial irradiation nor long exposu re to chemotherapy prior to transplant.