Bone density in survivors of childhood acute leukemia and malignant lymphomas

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess bone mineral density in survivors of childhood acute leukemia and malignant lymphomas to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis and identify the possible predisposing factors and patients at the greatest risk of reduced bone mineral density. The study included 41 survivors [27 patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 14 patients had malignant lymphomas]. In conclusion, 60.9% of the survivors of childhood leukemias and lymphomas had decreased BMD, osteoporosis being especially severe in 17.1% of these patients. In view of the risk of fractures among patients with osteoporosis, the survivors of childhood malignancy were at an increasing risk of bone fractures later in life irrespective of the underlying cause of osteoporosis, thus the intervention should be considered for prevention and proper management