Long-term effects on the intelligence of children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the intelligence quoti ent (IQ) in children treated for leukemia decreases ill the years following whole brain irradiation. Twenty-seven leukemic children were assessed foll owing a mean time lapse between radiotherapy and measurement of 9 years. Th e Ie rest used was the Hamburg Weschsler Intelligence Test for Adults. The IQ results did not differ significantly, p > 0.05, from the les of the genr eal population. It was found that age and nose were not predictors of a dec rease in IQ. The only predictor was time lapse between irradiation and IQ m easurement, which we found to be indicative of an IQ decrease even after 9 years. Time lapse between irradiation is a useful predictor of IQ.