HEIGHT AND WEIGHT PATTERN UP TO 20 YEARS AFTER TREATMENT FOR ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA

Objective-To assess height and body mass index standard deviation scor es up to 20 years after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (A LL). Subjects and methods-Height and body mass index standard deviatio n scores were measured in 33 patients (14 boys and 19 girls) with chil dhood ALL at diagnosis, after the end of treatment, at final height, a nd at follow up 10-20 years (median, 16.2) after diagnosis. Eleven pat ients were treated with chemotherapy only and 22 patients were treated with chemotherapy and cranial irradiation. Results-In the chemotherap y only group, height standard deviation scores were the same at follow up as at diagnosis, but there was a significant decrease in height st andard deviation scores during treatment. Mean body mass index standar d deviation scores increased steadily from the start of treatment unti l final height and continued to increase from final height until follo w up. In the cranially irradiated group, mean height standard deviatio n scores decreased steadily from the start of treatment until follow u p. Mean body mass index standard deviation scores increased continuous ly from the start of treatment until final height and from final heigh t until follow up. Conclusion-Chemotherapy combined with cranial irrad iation and chemotherapy alone might be persisting risk factors for obe sity even after final height has been attained in patients treated for childhood ALL. Chemotherapy is a risk factor for reduced final height only when administered in combination with cranial irradiation. These problems need to be recognised and dealt with at follow up examinatio n.