Nutrition, morbidity, and survival in South African children with Wilms' tumor

Fifty-nine children with Wilms' tumor(WT) were divided into a normal or poo rly nourished group according to anthropometric parameters. The 2 groups we re compared for morbidity and survival There was no difference in the media n age or stage of disease in the 38 well nourished and 21 poorly nourished children. There was no difference in the number of children in the normal o r poorly nourished group who developed a raised urea or creatinine level, f ebrile episodes, severe stomatitis, varicella, or upper or lower respirator y infections, or who needed intravenous antibiotics, parenteral nutrition, or red cell and platelet transfusions. Projected survival rate was 56 and 7 4 % for normal and poorly nourished children, respectively (p = .3). Poor n utrition at diagnosis, as determined by anthropometry had no effect on the morbidity of treatment or survival in children with WT: Based on these resu lts, selective dietary supplementation instead of routine routine intensive parenteral nutritional support for all children with WT is recommended in countries with limited resources.