Nutritional status of acute childhood lymphoblast leukemia (ALL) pre &post induction chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: The nutritional status of a child on cancer therapy influences both tolerance of and response to treatment especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Aim:The aim of study to assess the nutritional status in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) initially at presentation and to determine the change in body weight and amount of skeletal muscle wasting after induction of remission chemotherapy .Patients and methods:Thirty-five cases of newly diagnosed ALL&eighty healthy children as control group underwent somatometric measurement at initial presentation and after completion of induction chemotherapy. Results: Malnutrition (weight for age <80%) was documented in 20 cases (57%) ,but cumulative incidence of malnutrition (weight for age <80%, height for age <95%, weight for height <90%, triceps skin fold thickness < 5th centile, mid arm circumference < 5th centile) was found in 28 cases (77.1%). Eight cases (26%) lose weight during induction range (0.5-3 kg), most of them had complicated course (infection and bleeding) during induction chemotherapy. Seventeen cases (48%) had muscle wasting during induction.All those children who had lose weight also had skeletal muscle wasting, subcutaneous fat were increased in 27 cases (90%). 5 cases died during induction of remission .Conclusion:Malnutrition exists in a significant proportion of children with ALL; especially in children with complicated induction phase, while increase in subcutaneous fat occurs in most all children which was probably due to oral steroids. Key words: All, Children, Anthropometric Measurment .