OBESITY AFTER SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA INCHILDHOOD

Early and late effects of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia ( ALL) on weight was retrospectively investigated in 113 children in con tinuous first remission. Weight was examined at diagnosis up to 10 y a fter cessation of treatment. There was an increased prevalence of over weight after treatment for ALL which persisted over time. Al treatment regimens included corticosteroid therapy, and 52 patients received ad ditional cranial irradiation. Patients treated with and without crania l irradiation did not differ in weight gain, indicating that not crani al irradiation but corticosteroid therapy might explain weight gain in children treated for ALL. Dexamethasone was associated with a signifi cant increase of weight at cessation of treatment. Patients treated wi th a combination of prednisone and dexamethasone had as a late effect the highest prevalence of obesity (44%). Gender or age at diagnosis we re not related to weight gain.